The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-04
FEPC.-

hood OF Locomotive Engineers; In
ternational Association OF Mschin-
lists and the International Brother
hood OF Boilermakerr. Iron Ship
builders and Helpers OF America.
None OF the unions pL; in an Official
appearance st the hearings.
The committee, in is findings,
took q hefty blow al the south
eastern conference agreeTn, II be-
tween the Brotherhood OF Locono-
tive Firemen and Enginemen and 10
railroads.
Bias Agreement
The agreement. the FEPC ruled,
Is designed for no other purpose
than 20 cut down the employment
Of Negroes as fremen and 10 in
crease the hiring OF whites in these
positions The agreement seeks TO
accomplish this. Malcolm Ross.
chairman OF FEPC SAID. through
limiting firemen's jobs 10 "promot-
able men," and then by excluding
AL Negro workers from promotion.
Testimony at the hearings pointed
20 q steady decline in the number Of
Negroes employed n all but the
lowest categories during tht past 20
years. This decline. il was brought
out was occurring in the face OF
sharp demands by the railroads for
more manpower 20 meet the press
ing demands OF wartime trafhc.
A great deal Of reluctance existed
somewhere between the FEPC and
the Office Of War Information with
regard 10 the amount Of informa-
ton that ought 10 be released with
regard TO the findings in the cases
heard. Something OF minor battle
actually ragged IN owl on the
matter.
In spite OF this attempt 10 clamp
down, additional facts regarding
the hearings were obtained by the
Associated Negro Press
Demands Equal Rights
Regarding the southeastern agree
ment the FEPC directed that any
agreement entered into between the
railroads and the brotherhood, in
lieu Of the denounced one. shall
contain no provisions Or terms dis
against any employe or
applicant for employment because
OF race, creed, color or national
origin"
The committee told the various
offenders 10 adjust the employ
ment policy and practices so that all
needed workers shall be hired and
Ill company employees shall be pro-
NOTED or upgraded without regard
10 race, creed. colcr or national
origin" as set forth In Executive
Order 9346.
The committee could find no JUS
tifcation in the argument OF the
that public resentment
would prohibit advancement OF Ne
groes in certain Jobs. or their hire
for that matter.
EFT will scarcely do 10 point to
rocial conditions, traditions or
usages In attempting to answer
such questions for the duties OF
those employees involved no ming
ling with the public on terms Of So
rial equality" the ruling said.
Further, the public all over the
South has been accustomed to Ne
Eroes filling hose positions since
he beginning OF the companys
existence"
On the Pennsylvania and the New
York Central. questions arose over
the matter OF promotions to stew
ardshipG The committee declared
that mo question involving super
vision Of white men by Negro can
arise because q steward supervises
except Negroes"
In those instances where Negroes
were being refused employment or
because Of race In GER
tain categories, companies were or
dered 70 instruct personnel officers
10 accept and public employment
pffices 10 refer, workers for all
OF work or training
solely on the basis OF their qualifi-
without regard to their race
or color"