The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-14
SPEAKS BEFORE
LARGE CROWD
AT N EE II N G

Discrimination against minority
group workers is a national and
not a minority group problem, de-
clared Chairman Malcolm Ross of
the FEPC in an address before the
Metropolitan Detroit Council on
Fair Employment Practice in the
Motor City. Sunday. Oct. 8.
In facing this problem. there must
be found common ground, within
the industry itself. on which the
workers OF many races and origins
may take their stand. Otherwise.
Ross said, racism may disrupt the
collective bargaining machinery on
which both employers and workers
ton of their problems.
Discussing the problem OF dis
elimination in terms Of the Negro
phase because Negroes are easily
Identified and so are both actually
and symbolically typical OF this
minority problem which all racial
and religious groups encounter IN
this or any other country" the
FEPC chairman declared:
I'VE know that great shifts In
war employment are inevitable as
soon as Germany is conquered. g..
A concern on the part of war work.
ers, white and Negro for their per-
ronal futures during these necessary
shifts is perfectly natural. But ii is
one thing TO hug shadowy fears and
quite another 10 take steps 10
remedy known dilemma. We ought
20 hA hab hi ~
what lies ahead for Negro workers.
1T is not enough 10 state that
Negroes have made great gains in
war employment during the past
two years and, on that basis, 10
suppose that their unemployment
will follow the same patterns ds
their fellow white war workers.
There are very special considera-
tions affecting Negro workers dur
irg the readJustment period"
OfferiH! figures 10 illustrate the
probability that Negroes will bear
heavy part OF the lsyoff and un-
EN- ploymen. burGen as reconversion
proceeds. mainly through situations
involving on-the-lob seniority and
continued discriminatory practices,
Ross said:
Jobs May BE Scarce For Race
Il think II sums up 10 the fact
that minority group workers. and
especially the easily identified Ne
gro and Mexican-American, are GO
ing 10 have harder time finding
jobs during reconversion than are
white workers"
In coping with the problem. the
structure OF American industry and
III Negroes place IN the trsde'union
movement INST be considered. he
added, The pace of Negro workers
III trade unionlsm is a vital factor
in the creation or release OF racial
tensions
Il believe il is the part OF wis
dom for c..ployers 10 accept needed
and available Negro workers. and
that trade unions should make no
distinction because OF race. color or
creed. And hold that employers
and unions should do this for the
sake of saving their mutual COL
lectIve bargaining relationship from
the disrup;ive effects OF racism. IL
IL takes self interest 10 cure men
OF intolerance. let II come that way.
he declared.
Pointing out that over the years
various inequiucs against certain
citizen groups have been recognized
and the abuses removed under the
authority o! constitutional powers.
MIR Ross declared further:
These issues are certain 10 be
submitted 10 the judgment OF the
American people. AS chairman of
the FEPc | can assure you that
President Roosevelt Is deeply in
terested in these issues. and can
assure you that ne favors the early
enactment Of permanent Fair En-
ployment Act in order that the
problem which We are facing during
the war may be effectively met in
the days of peace.