The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-02-13
PROBE BARES
IS. COMPLAINTS
AGAINST UNION
Charge AFL Local As
Cause Of Bar On
Negro Workers

SAN FRANCISCO-(ANP)-An
advisory committee this week told
the VINO that "a supply OF labor
which is desperately needed" had
been withheld when Local 513 of
the Boilermarkers union had dis
eliminated against Negroes seeking
jobs at the Richmond shipyards on
the bay.
The committee chairman. Judge
S. J. Lazarus, Of the state superior
court. declared that members have
arrived at the unacceptable conclu-
sion" that the AFL affiliate had
prevented Negro men and wom-
en- from being employed in Rich
mond shipysrds solely because they
were Negroes"
The jurist charged that the en-
ployment practices Of the local
were in direct contradiction" to
President Roosevelts Executive Or
der No. 1902 that makes il manda-
tory upon both labor unions and
employers 10 provide for the full
and equitable participation in de-
Tense industries of all workers
without discrimination because Of
race. color. creed or national origin"
Blame Shipyard Local
Judge Lazarus report written 10
the regional director Of the VINO
further stated that in each OF
dozen cases brought before the sd-
visory committee the failure 10
obtain employment in shipyards
can be laid at the door OF Local
sl3's refusal 10 clear qualified Ne
gro applicants.
Some OF those had weeks
months and years OF training;
others were anxious 10 enter the
training schools provided in The
shipyards Most were referred TO
the jobs through the United States
Employment service; and a great
many had received a hiring slip
from the company. Only the dis
criminatory policy OF Local 5l3
s,ood in their way"
The chairman also charged that
all the committees efforts 10
meet with representatives OF the
union and clarity the matter across
the conference txble" had ended in
failure.
Cite 10 Cs@psnswts
Eighteen specific complaints OF
discrimination were attached 10 the
report and Judge Lazarus declared
that:
Discrimination does a vast dis
service TO the cause OF democracy,
pcrpetraies an, even greater dis
service 10 the war effort itself"
Homer Z. Patton. international
representative of the Bolermakers'
union. denied the charges in the
Lazarus repAt. He said that sev-
ersl thousand Negro workers are
now employed al The Richmond
yards operated by Henry j Kaiser.
and that several hundred had been
cleared by the union since last Au.
gust when II received It's charter.
The Lazarus report made the
Boilermakers union look bad" ad.
mitted Patton. but he said that his
union had been willing TO act as
guinea pig 10 force all OF the
unions into line
A spokesman for the USES de-
clared tina, Richmond y.sis EN-.
ploy between 5000 and 5000 Ne
groes
Probe Begun in August
The investigation into charges OF
discrimination against Negroes in
the shipbullding industry was be-
gun las, August AT that time il is
understood that approximately $500
Negroes were employed al Rich
mond. and that more than 1850 Of
them were members OF the Boiler
makers union.
IL was reported ,hat other unions
were refusing Negroes member
ships and the Boilermakers' sough,
a showdown" and were willing 10
tax beating in the Lazarus
findings 10 bring the situation 10
light.
or approximately $500 persons
hired al Richmond last month II
was revealed that between 200 and
800 were cleared through the Boil
ermakers' union.
According 10 one federal officisl
working people themselves" mus,
change their attitudes towards Ne
gro workers before unions can be
expected 10 cooperate fully. He