The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-28
SAYS CONDUCT
and RELATIONS.
Have IMPROVED
Working Conditions To
Blame: Calls Critics
Damned Liars
Nv T. JOHN WOOD

'Sc,i-appoinied critics o. The con-
duet OF defense workers should take
into consideration conditions under
when the so-callcd bad actors
work. ard also the attitudes Of fore
men and plant mana gers" Jesse
Ovens world famous track star.
now = member q! tho Labor Rela-
tons department II the Ford Motor
company, said last week
Reporting 70 a meeting 81 he
Crbsn league associates. OF which
he 5 member Owens said that
there has been general Improvement
in the conduct Of Negro workers ia
the Foundry division OF the Ford
plant and added that race relations
slso have improved
Owens SAID that efforts 10 solve
eonduc; and behavior problems
have met v IN much success due
largely TO general Improvement in
working conditions as they effect
eolorcd workers,
Blasts Professional" Critics
Cgiticizins the professionals"
Nho have become alarmed over the
conduct OF Negro workers in de-
fensc plants, and have SCI them
selves 10 the task Of solving be-
hsvior problems, Ovens asserted
tina; these critics should first try
20 appreciate the many contributing
factors 10 what is generally con-
sidered bad conduct" on Jobs, be-
fore criticizing the workers.
III the white solar professionals
would take one OF the jobs held by
the average defense worner for
Just one day they would soon learn
that there are many reasons why
workers are disagreeable and irrit-
able and sometimes hard to get
slong WITH" he declared.
Il have seen men six-foot tall
bending over shipping steel rails on
tie floor These men work with
chlsels less than foot long. They
work in noise all day. in bent
over position. and are constantly
urged by foremen 10 show more
speed. Is il any wonder that men
working under such conditions fire.
quently fy of the handle and use
abusive language?
If any Of the critics can take that
ell day for months with no time on.
without blowing up once in .
4 NAM. tAon t2neys ehoalA trade places
y 49, u f1efery Sssrkers- !
hs Critics I
Citing several attempts to brand
the average Negro worker as bad
actor" Owens said that anyone who
says the worker is always wrong is
q damned liar"
an the first place" he said, these
critics do''t seem TO realize that
the majority Of Negro men have
the hardest. dirtiest and most dam
gerous Jobs in these factories.
have seen men carrying lsdels OF
hot steel all day long. and all they
could hear was the foreman calling
on them TO keep the line moving.
il is not always the forcman's fault:
A. he doesn't ride the workers the
plant manager will ride him But
no matter how you look at it. some
body is forever riding the workers
on these jobs"
Owens said that because OF these
conditions. many workers frequent
~ blow of steam" giving vent to
their feelings through the use OF
profanity. However. he said. fore
men are learning that such blow
ups" are soon forgotten by the
worker.
Conditions, Conduct Improved
General improvement in the con-
duct OF workers has been encourag-
Ing. Owens averred. He said that
especially in divisions where white
and colored women work together
there has been concerted effort 10
impress upon workers, men and
women OF both races, that they
should watch their language and al
ell times respect one another.
One outstanding incident which
resulted in change in the thinking
O, many workers, Owens said. was
the discharge Of white and Negro
worker for distributing obscene lit
ersture in the plant Since then.
he asserted. workers OF both races
and sexes have made il their busi-
ness 10 talk personally with any
would be trouble makers. This. he
ssid. has helped race relations i'm
messursbly.
He said there is great opportunity
for union leaders al the Ford plants
70 improve race relations and also
help mana cement improve working
conditions