The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-23
UNION CONFAb
HEARD RACIAL
ISSUE argued
Labor Group Opposed To
Bias Cites Their
Record

WASHINGTON CAAP) 49, TIL =
American Federation OF Labor sees
a definite threat 20 is own wage
structure in determinations that
are practiced against the Negro
but 4 does no, believe that the gov
eminent ought 20 do anything 10
bring about a more dem ocratie en-
rloyment policy in the ranks Of or
gained labor.
Up in Boston last week the AFL
convention heard A. Philip Ran
dolph. international president 81 the
brotherhood Of Sleeping Car Por-
tiers. rise 10 argue for The appoint
rnent Of a committee Instructed 10
push the fight against racial dis
elimination within The ranks a. that
lahor organization He had been
doing that for u years ever since
fhe brotherhood was admitted 70
membership in the AL.
The answer he got was that TIE
federation for 63 years has been
opposed to discrimination in any
form. However, the proposed res
olution for the appointment OF a
committee on the subject, would be
referred 10 it's committee on educa-
ton. President William Green said
ne was acting in accordance with
The wishes Of the rank and file in
having racial barriers eliminated
IN certain unions affiliated with the
federation.
Prior 10 the Boston meeting, the
executive council OF AFL met and
wrote a report 10 the 63rd annual
convention in which II discussed
at some length the history and
ft,nctioning o. tho Presidents Com
mittee on Fair Employment Prac-
tee on which Boris Shishkin sits
for Green. An excerpt from that
report said:
"Differential treatment Of minori'
~ groups. and especially Negroes.
at the time Of maximum employ
ment induced by the war, is bound
70 establish and perpetuste basic
differentials in the nations wage
structure solely because OF race.
When employment is curtailed after
the Wharf.-The creation OF reservoir
of cheap labor among Negro work
CTS can serve only 10 destroy the
established wage standards for all
labor and result in racial strife.
"The executive council does not
believe. however, that imposition
Of any policy, no matter how salu-
tary. through compulsory govern
ment control OF freely constituted
associations OF workers, accords
with the basic right Of freedom OF
association among the American
peonle. While il endorses without
reservation the policy OF non-dis-
elimination in employment, the ex-
ecutive council takes strong excep-
ton to the compulsory imposition
upon unions OF this or any other
policy interfering with the SELF
government vi lhpbi va hoiii@"'
The Wagner act which set up the
National Labor Relations boards
gave that agency power to impose
many decisions upon employers in
behalf Of labor not all OF which
were determined through elections
by plant employees. Even now the
National War Labor board is i'm
posing upon employers in behalf OF
labor maintenance OF membership
clauses which protect the bargain
ing rights of unions although there
may develop a lag in union inter
est on the part OF employees.
While the AFL takes exception
20 the fact that the government is
seeking to abolish barriers against
the employment OF its citizens, even
down TO barriers existing in the
trade union movement itself, that
labor organizations finds no fault
that the government should back
UP these things which benefit it so
much.
The FEPC has announced that ii