The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-05-02
WILLOW R U N
PLANT BARS.
NEGRO WOMEN.
Offers Jobs As NJ al d S
To COlOred
Applicants 4

Employment at the Ford Motor
eompany's gigantic Willow Run
bomber plant near Ypsilanu ap-
preached mass proportions last
week with plant officials placing the
number Of men and women hired
daily at 400 and above. The requests
OF Negro men and women for en-
ployment here during the same
period were deliberately and IN
periodically shunted aside.
Here. briefly, is a correct picture
Of the Negro's position and condi-
ton in this most strategic war pro-
duction area on this continent, and
specifically his present status re-
garding work opportunity at the
Willow Run defense plant:
Negro men and women applicants
for war work in this plant are not
being hired. This does not include
the few Negroes transferred here
from other Ford plants)
OF the officially estimated 1000
women, included in this number
are no Negro women in spite OF
applications made by them for de-
tense production work or training.
which the company offers, to pre-
pare them 10 co that work. CMany
of the white women employed arc
placed in training classes for from
10 days to three weeks before being
assigned regular jobs, and are paid
the same rate as men tra!nees doing
similar work.
Case of the Six Colored Women
Recently Ford employment
Official arrived in YpSilanti with the
startling announcement that he was
prepared 10 interview six Negro
women for immediate placement in
the Willow Run plant. The inter-
views took place in the office Of a
local elementary school Involved
were young women whose ages
ranged from 10 10 "a; two were high
school graduates. The employment
official exDlained.that what he had
to offer was classified az maids
work, and entailed the cleaning Of
women's washrooms.
you will have to hold your heads
up and do your work wei, and with
out complaint in spite OF the abuse
and insults you must expect from
other women employees at the
plant he declared Two Of those
interviewed in YpSi,anti were ac-
cepted, but so far. none Of the six
needed for immediate placemen.
have been told TO report for work
While Negroes constitute many Of
the job seekers in the quarter Of a
mile long line seen daily stretching
away from the bomber plants gate
their sole consideration has been
The acceptance by the company OF
their written applications for inte-
grafton into this war industry.
A committee Of young Negro citi-
Eens OF Ypsilanti has drawn up a
complete report on discriminatory
conditions al the Willow Run plan;
which is being forwarded to the
Fair Labor Practices Board in
Washington, D. C. In it is a demand
that a representative Of the board
be sent here to investigate these
conditions and seek equitable ad-
Justment through negotiation vita
company, union and government.
officials in charge Of defense pro-
duction.
The Willow RttR- bo-ber plant Is
being constructed at a reported ex-
penditure Of $4,000 900 in govern
ment funds FOR the mass production
of huge Consolidated heavy bomb
ers for the army air corps. It is
expected 10000 workers will be
employed here when full produc-
tion is under way, with the amazing
total Of $4,000 women 10 be included
in that number.