Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-08-11
Philadelphia Strike Was
Really Fight Between
Company Union & CLIO.
8Y EUSTACE GAY
By EUSTACE GAY
managing Editor, Philadelphia Tribune for Continental
Features)

Philadelphia - The strike,
which began unannounced at
four A. NJ. Tuesday, is now
known to have been instigat-
ed by Frank Carney, head of
Company Union, the PRT
Employees Union. This union
starting under defeat administered
a few months ago by the CIO in
a contest to be bargaining agent,
has used this means of gaining
their point and embarrassing the
CIO union in its negotiations
with the company for new con-
tract.
Carney and Associates had con-
tract with Pic in which there was
a clause which the union, with the
company's consent, interpreted as
being against upgrading of Col
ored employees as motormen, bus
drivers, conductors and cashiers
and against employment of either
Colored men or women not in en-
ploy of company for such positions.
The union and the company Joined
in this contention at an FEPC
hearing, held here a month ago
and at a session of Congressional
Committee held in Washington, D.
c., with Congressman Howard
Smith of Virginia presiding.
Use Car Barns to FOment Strike
An FEPC directive to hire Col
ored men and women as motormen,
bus drivers, cashiers was ignored
by the company. Three weeks ago
the VINO ordered the use of all
available men, regardless of color,
creed, race or national origin and
in keeping with this order the COM
pany began last Sunday the train
ing of eight Colored men. In the
time that elapsed, between the issu-
ance of VINO order and company
putting it into effect, Carney and
Associates.with or without knowl-
edge of company, used carbarns to
address workers infaming them
and telling them to keep Negroes
in their place and that jobs sought
belonged to white men. Doctor A.
A. Mitten, leading Pic official,
when it was called to his attention
that Carney had engaged in this
kind of activity, professed to be un-
able to police every barn or to
keep people from saying what they
thought.
However, on Wednesday, after it
seemed that the Army would be
called in, an order was issued that
all employees not working must
leave the barn. Unfortunately
hoodlums, principally in North
Philadelphia, made unwarranted
and unjustifed attacks on mer-
chants, places of business and indi-
viduals, damaging property and
engaging in acts of vandalism.
Mayor Plays Strange Part
Leading Colored citizens ap-
pealed to Colored people to refrain
from violence of any kind. The
mayor could not be reached on
Tuesday. Telephone calls for him
or his secretary found them un-
available, when we asked to be
furnished with any statements
made by the mayor. The closing
and shortest paragraph Of three
paragraph statement was read to
US on the telephone by a woman
aide. In a longer statement by
Mayor Bernard Samuels, published
in the daily press, he professed not
to know the reasons for the strike.
Months ago the mayor was notified
of the fight to have Colored en-
ployees of Pic upgraded and other
Colored men and women hired by
PFC for positions not hitherto
held. The mayor is an ex-officio
member of board of directors of
Pic. What he did if anything to
help find a solution for the matter
is not clear.
In addition an inter-racial COM
mittee appointed by him following
Detroit riot has done nothing and
has been refused money with which
to work. The situation is intense.
The VINO, WLB, FEPC are stand
ing pat on use Of Colored men.
Leading daily newspapers all have
condemned strikers in vigorous
language. Consensus of opinion is
that nothing will happen when
workers return to work and train
ing of Colored men continues.
There is very definite feeling how
ever that if strike is settled on
basis of refusing to upgrade Col
ored Pic employees or to hire
Colored men referred to Pic by
uses, there will be trouble.