The Omaha guide., 1943-12-04
Stop Discrimination
Hits Eastern
Railroads
BY ERNEST e. Johnson

a result Of its findings based upon
evidence presented at the hearings
held here Sept. Is to Is into com
plants Of discrimination in employ
ment policies and practices.
Notices to the carriers AMI the
unions were sent out two weeks a.
go with the requests that the
groups report to the committee
within 80 days on steps taken 10
comply with the directive.
Meanwhile. it is understood, the
New York Central system and the
Pennsylvania railroad have shown
even more of a disposition to set
! tie their differences with the com
mittee. Doubt was expressed. how
| ever. that the southern lines would
do anything Independently. A
formula for joint action was said
to be under consideration in some
quarters.
In its findings the FEPC cited
! as unfair the policies Of certain
railroad unions which 1T said. dis
eliminate against Negroes, because
Of race, in regard TO membership.
thus rendering it impossible for
said Negroes) to hava any adequate
voice or representation with res
pect to grievances n the negot-
iation of agreements affecting work
ing condition, employment policy,
practices and opportunities" In
each case the union was told to
cease and desist."
The unions cited were the Bro
therhood Of Locomotive FirenIcn
and Enginmen; brotherhood CT
Railroad Trainmen; Order Of Rail-
way Conductors; Brotherhood OF
Railway Carmen of America; Bro
1 therhood Of Locomotive Engineers.
International Association of Mach
inists and the Intersat ioll Broth
erhood of Boilermaks ra, non Ship
builders and Het9crs ~ Ameri-a.
None Of tie unicas put in an Of
fetal appearance at the hearings.
The committee. in its findings.
took a he1fty blow at the south
eastern conference agreements be-
tween the Brotherhood Of Locomo-
tiv Firemen and Ei.ginemen and
10 railroads
The agreement. tie FEPC ruled,
is designed o no other purpose
than to cut down the employment
of Negroes rs firsmen and to in
crease the hiring Of whites in those
positions. The agreement seeks to
accomplish this, Malcolm Ross.
chairman of FEPC said. through
setting definite percentages for
whites and Negro firemen; through
limiting firemen's jobs 10 ''promol-
able men, and then by excluding
all Negro workers from promotion.
Testimony at the hearings point
ed to a steady decline in the mum
Der of Negroes employed in all but
the lowest categories during the.
past 20 years. This declin4, it was
brought out, was occurring. II the
face Of sharp demands by the rail
roads for more manpowe- to meet
the pressing demands oe wartime
traffic.
A great deal Of reluctance exist
ed somewhere between the FEPC
and the office Of War Information
with regard to the amount of in
formation that ought to be releas-
ed with regard to the findings in
the cases heard. Something of a
minor battle actually ragged in OWL
on the matter.
In spite Of this statement to
clamp down, additional facts re
garding the hearings were obtain
ed by the Associated Negro press.
Regarding the southeastern a
greement, the FEPC directed that
any agreement entered into be
tween the railroads and the broth
erhood. in lieu Of the denounced
one. shall coneain no provisions
or terms discriminating against
any employee or applicant for en-
ployment because Of race. creed,
or color or national origin"
The committee told the various
offenders to adjust the employ
ment policy and practices so that
all needed workers shall b hired
and all company employees shall be
promoted or upgraded without re
! gard to race, creed, colo- or nat
ional origin" as Sc. forth in Ex-
ecutive Order 9346.
The committee coui4 find no
justification in the argument IF
the carriers that public resentment
would prohibit advancement of
| Negroes in certain jobs. or their
hire for that matter.
IT will scarcely 10 to point to
social conditions, traditions Or US
ages in attempting TO answer such
questions for the duties Of these
employees involve no m'ngiing with
the public on terms Of social e.
quality" the ruling said. "Furth-
er. the public all over thu south