Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-04-13
Industry Leader
Urges Elimination
JObDiScriminatiOn

production OF q large electrical
manufacturing company told the
Negro Labor Victory Committee at
a meeting in New York that "the
elimination of discrimination is one
Of the necessary steps to achieve
full employment and high purchas-
ing power in peacetime." The
speaker was Bernard Fem, who
represented the Electronic Corpor-
alton of America, manufacturers Of
ECA radios and electronic devices
for the armed forces.
american businessmen are
learning" said Mr.. Fem, that as
long as we have millions Of work
ers belonging to minority groups
which are Disseminated against be-
cause of race, color, nationality or
religion there will be millions Of
workers who are forced to accept
substandard wages and conditions.
The existence of these groups IN
evitably tends to lower the general
wage level. And, as a result, there
is not enough purchasing power to
buy the products of industry"
In the Electronic Corporation Of
America plant, according to Mr..
Fem, more than 1870 of the en-
ployees are Negroes. What is
more important" he added, lis that
this group are not solely in low
categories, but are spread evenly
through high skilled classifcations,
such as engineers, machinists, test
ers, etc. Negro and white, all ma
tionalities and religions, work to-
cether in harmony. We have had
no strikes for any cause. The shop
chairman for the engineers and
technical workers is a Negro. The
co-chairman of the Labor-Manage-
ment Committee is a Negro. Every
worker is making an honest effort
to turn out maximum production.
Ninety-eight per cent Of our en-
ployees are buying war bonds. The
last War Loan Drive was oversub-
scribed by three hundred per cent.
Our company, in cooperation with
an intelligent and progressive
union, has created a climate OF
democracy. We believe Electronic
Corporation of America is a happy
place to work. We would not have
it any other way"
In solving the discrimination
problem, according to Mr.. Fem, it
is not possible to permit nature to
take its course nor is education"
the answer. DISCRIMINATION must
be fought. And the fight must be
constant and on all fronts to keep
our present progress from sue
cumbing to the pressure Of reac-
ton"
Other pertinent thoughts in Mr..
Fein's fortnight discussion were
the following: Much thought has
been given to avoiding group fric-
ton. Unfortunately, too little
thought has been devoted to pro-
noting unity and harmony"
Also, I'VE tried in the best way
we knew to find out whether the
man or woman was a skilled or
potentially skilled employee. But
we didn't think about the color OF
his skin, the native land of his par.
ents or grandparents, or the church
he went to or didn't go to-"
Also, There is no room at ECA
for discrimination. We don't prac-
tice it, and if we found any en-
ployee practicing it, which we have
not, we would treat him as we
would any other saboteur."
Mr.. Fem praised the Ives-Quinn
anti-discrimination law. He said,
Business will have to play 1t
straight, abide by the spirit as well
as the letter of the law. l expect
that major employment opportuni-
ties like the public utilities will
quickly open up, and that when it
becomes a part of accepted practice
to avoid discrimination the problem
will gradually whittier away. Yes,
the Ives-Quinn law is the best form
of education. Practice will make
perfect, and business will learn to
do it the right way by no longer
being permitted to do it the wrong
way"
Mr.. Fem called upon the Negro
Labor Victory Committee to Sup
port a complete program to achieve
full employment, in which not the
least important plank shall be fair
employment practices"