The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
TEXAS OIL co.
MUST ADJUST
DIFHREN1lAtS.
Unanimously A dOpt e d
Decis ion Explained
BY UNC PreXy

The Na;iors, War Labor Board
this week unanimously ruled tina
wage c,aSsi'catons based solely or
difference in race were w,,h0u;
validity, and ordered the abolition
az pay diferonta,s between white
and Negro workers perform NJ
equal work
The board directed the Sou'hpar:
Petroleum company q Texas CITY.
Texal 80 grant wage increases -,
SIS Negro employees which Wo,~
place them or q basis o. economic
parity with tho VI e WORKERS IN
the same Classification"
In a far-rcachirF opinion. Dr
Frank P Graham. public member
Of the board and president Of the
University OF North Carolina. ox-
planned the boards decision Dean
Wayne l. Morse, public member
who did not pariic pate IN the de-
oision on this case. asked special
permission 10 be recorded as con-
curing in Dr. Grahams opinion
The text Of the opinion is attached
The board directed the company
20 institute Reconsideration system
and 10 gran. in each classification
a wage increase Of either percent
or 5is cents, whichever is higher.
These increases Will not brin1 the
rates al the Southport field above
the minimum OF the wage bracket
IN the prevailing range OF rates for
other oil fields in the area.
The company'S employees are
represented by The Oil Workers In
transitional. ClO.
The directive order OF the Ma
tonal War Labor Board in this
case was approved by the following
members OF the board George w
Taylor, Frank p Graham. Van A
Bittner. Robert J. Watt, George K,
Bait and Almon E. Roth. Frank
p. Graham. public member. was
designated 10 write the following
opinion for the board.
OPINION
u this small but significant case
the National War Labor Board
sbolishes the classifications "colored
laborer" and white laborer" and
reclassifies both simply as labor
ers" with the same rates OF pay
for all in that classification without
discrimination on account OF color.
The Negro workers in this classifi-
cation are hereby granted ware in
creases which place them on a basis
OF economic parity with the white
workers in the same classification.
This wage increase is made without
>noUArd TO he Little Steel formula.
with Segsrd / simply for the
nbcrstic formuIk OF ectal pay
work equal. ID quantity and
H1ity In the same classification.
dhls equalization Of economic OPP
pcrtunity is not q violation Of the
sound American provision OF diff
ferentials in pay for differences in
skills. II Is rather a bit OF realiza-
ton OF the no less sound American
principle Of equal pay for equal
work as one OF those equal rights
In the promise OF American democ-
rscy regardless Of color. race, sex,
religion. or national origin.
The unanimous decision is in line
with the Presidents Executive
Order 1902; with the general policy
OF the board; with the unions re-
quest; with the recommendation OF
the referee. DR. Thomas =. Rasusa;
with the unanimous recommended
ton OF the review committee COM
posed OF representatives OF labor,
industry, and the public: with pro-
phetic Amercanism: and with the
cause Of the United Nations. To the
credit OF the company this decision.
along with other decisions in the
case, is accepted by management in
good faith and spirit.
Economic and political discrimi-
nation on account OF race or creed
is in line with the Nazi program
America. in the days OF its infant
weakness the haven OF heretics and
the oppressed Of all races. must not
In the days Of its power become
the stronghold Of bigots. The world
has given America the vigor and
variety OF It's differences for the
sake Of America and the world
Understanding religious and racial
differences make for better under
standing 81 other differences and for
an appreciation of the sacrednesS OF
human personality. as a basic 20
human freedom. The American
answer 70 differences in color and
creed is not a concentration camp
but cooperation. The answer TO
human error is not terror but light
and liberty Under The moral law
BY this light and liberty. the Negro
has made a contribution in work
and faith. song and story laughter
and struggle which arc an enduring
part OF the spiritual heritage Of
America.
There is no more loyal group OF
our fellow citizens than the Aneri-
can Negroes, north and south. In
defense Of America from attack
from without. they spring 10 arms
in the spirit OF Dorie Miller OF
Texas. the Negro mess boy, who.
when the machine gunner on the