The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1942-10-14
BITTERFTCHT

Negro has encountered was wag
ed here last week over diserimin
alton of Negro skilled workers il
the shipyards end refusal Of mem
bership in the Portland Boiler
makers Union. This fight didn'
start just last week, it has beer
brewing ever since the shipyardi
were opened up here. altho il
came to fever heat as threats
went out that serious trouble
would ensue when a large grouI
of Negro workers from N. Y. and
other places were brought here
by Edgar Kaiser, for the ship
yards. An agreement announced in
Washington Wednesday following
a conference headed by officials
of the War Manpower Commits
sion is to the eeffct that Negroes
will be employed in all depart
ments OF the shipyards Eat their
best skills" was made between
Edgar Kaiser, manager of the
Kaiser interests in this area and
Tom Ray, secretary of the Port
land Boilermakers Union. DR.. d.
N. Unthank, chairman of the Ad-
visory Emergency Coun Gil and
Mr.. Kelley Foster, local labor
leader had first hand information
of this agreement as they partici-
pated in a conference with Kaiser,
Ray and members of their respec-
tive eprsonnels in Vancouver, Wn.
last Saturday. The agreement still
doesn't give full rights, inasmuch
as 1t doesn't pave the way for full
membership of Negroes in all la
Dor unions which bar them, how
ever. According to reports from
Washington all A. F. of L. unions
which bar Negroes in skilled jobs
were given two alternatives, one
admitting Negroes to union men,
bership, the other allowing them
to work at skilled jobs without
union memberships. Upon the
agreement DR.. nUthank. comment
ed: Were pleased that at last
some of our colored workers who
are trained to handle skilled jobs
will be given a chance to do their
utmost for the war effort"
DR.. Richard Steiner, Unitarian
pastor and selective service appeal
board member for this district, ur-
ged craft unions controlling ship
yard employment to permit full
use of Negroes skill and energy
in furthering the war effort. DR..
Steiner said he felt the alterna-
tive should be induction into the
army for skilled men now enjoy
ing occupational deferment. AS
long as skilled Negroes are not
doing skilled work, DR.. Steiner
reasoned, the men now employed
in the highly-paid crafts cannot
me regarded as ''irreplaceable"
because the Negroes are available
to replace them.
Men who don't wan to work
with the Negroes may have to get
out and fight" DR.. Steiner declar-
ed to the Optimist club, at a lun-
cheon on Friday. Asked to ampli-
fly this statement, he said: THE
statement appearing in the press
to the effect that Negro welders
will be given opportunity to be
hired at local industry is of
doubtful value as long as they
cannot be members of the union"
The problem of Negroes working
in the shipyards is difficult of So
luton at hest, but it will not be
made easier if the burden of hir-
ing them is placed directly upon
the shoulders of the shipyard en-
ployers.
ut remains to be seen if Ne
gro workers are actually given
e ual opportunity to use their skill
and energy in furthering the war
effort, if that opportunity is not
given, 1 for one, will be reluctant
to vote any further deferment for
skilled workers who can be re-
placed by qualified Negro work.
ers; for deferments are properly
gronted only to those men who
cannot be replaced promptly"
Mrs. l.. K. Weeks, is IN at the