The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1944-11-04
IN TEMPORt RY STATIN

About - per cent OF the working Negroes in
war industries in temporary emergency mush-
room industries such AS shiphiulding, aircraft manu-
facinrc munitions. etc Tao-thirds of these Negro
workers have acquired skilled and semi skilled RAJ r
ines and fay Yet Il is precisely This group which
viii as contracts are concluded. cut-baCks are
made he dumped a labor market IN which X
has been dnculf for unc-ihild of the working Ne
gro population TO secure other than unsk'lled anu
mental jobs.
Michael Ross Washington representative OF th'
Industrial Union OF Marine and Shipbuiding Work
ers OF America tCIOl warned the conference thai
the shipbuildng industry in the postwar period VIII
face a sharp contraction bringing with IL substantial
reduction in payrolls lie thought that reductions
among Negroes going 10 be heavy due largely
to strict application OF seniority rules and veterans
unemployment provisions lie declared: The
problem OF the Negro here is part OF the total prob
lem OF reconv,rsion Of shipbulding workers.
large part OF the hope for aiier treatment in the
economic field resides in such simple question as
the obtaining OF the right 10 vote
The Onice OF War Information last May said that
wartime employment OF Negro shpyard workers has
increased more than l5fold since l9io. In 1914
there nearly lJS0O0 Negroes IN the industry
WANTS MORE MIGRATION
Dr. Herman Fcldman OF Dartmouth college
wanted 10 see increased migration Of Negroes from
the South into areas OF more liberal tradition: crit
czed the "ineptness OF management in failing TO
do its part in The Introduction OF new workers. anu
went on to say that trade unions and the constant
education OF the people would be the logical pro
gram 10 be carried out.
Tho Negro I'll, nearly everyone agrees, Shouiu D0
the first among his to enjoy immediate anu iui
employment benefits without resort 60 dole or tenn
porary relief some will return to jobs they bad
before they entered the service other thousands
will return To an unemployed status unless some
thing Is done TO provide for them. These men have
undergone profound change both in habit and IN
ability Army and Navy training has given them
new skls made many OF them specialists In highly
complicated crafts and trades II a dshwasher be-
fore Pearl Iarbor the Negro Gl who has learned to
be an expert electrician radio tcchncian ISN'T
going to be content with another dishWashing lob
npon his discharge from the armed forces He has
been told he hghting for better world IN which
TO live lie will feel that the price he paid and that
paid by his buddcs has been more than enough 70
guarantee him economic security at home. lie Won't
feel at all good about II when he starts esaluating
the efforts put forth 10y those he has been told o-c
his leaders and finds that much. II not most OF such
efforts have been selfish conHicting and Inadequate
10 service his needs.
OTHER LINES ALSO INCLUDED
The situation in the shIpbuilding aircraft. auto
mobile railroad and steel industries regards the
Negro can be applied with slight variation TO other
lines OF work. The temporary status OF the Negro
home front worker may similarly exist in the bnd
cultural fields Regardless of what might be sail
the trade unions have done good job In organizing
every job available TO protect the workers. But In
throwing up dlshwashing, bricklaying. plumbing.
janitors secretaria and other union locals soldiers
especially Negro soldiers. have been organized out
OF such unions What will happen when the boys
come marching home 10 hnd they cant get lob
without union card whore they used TO work before
the war without such card, remains to be seen
about what his leadership has provided for him n;
honac