The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-08-16
MsnsMm'
4 RAxs

The organizing drive in the Soutf
now being carried on by the American
Federation of Labor and the Congress
of Industrial Organization has met
one or two of the much feared violent
reactions toward drive for members
in Unions which admit negroes.
In many communities in which this
drive is being made for union mem
bers there is antipathy to unions
themselves and to labor organizations
in general; that is, there are large
numbers of people who are just
against unions" and don't want to
see any development of the unions in
their community in their industry, or
even in the South.
When the union drive, moreover an
nounces that negroes and whites are
being asked to join the same locals
and on equal terms and that the de-
mands for working conditions will
apply to both negroes and whites, then
this prejudice against unions is COM
bined with the deep-seated older pre-
JUDGE against the minority group of
the South. This makes a difficult sit
uation at times and is one which the
organizers are watching out for very
carefully.
Georgia Lights the Way
To Darkness
A recent episode in Georgia brings
to mind sharply what threats and
fear can do to hold back union or
ganizatlon. A negro named George
Dudley Joined the United Cement,
Lime and Gypsum Workers local union
at the Martin Clay Co., in Gordon, Ga.
He was loyal to the union and believed
in its principles. At any rate, he en-
rolled among the first of the workers
in the first week of the drive in which
about 100 workers were enrolled.
There was outright opposition to a
union in that town; outright opposition
on the part of the company to having
any employee join the union. Many
workers, however joined the union.
The company eventually increased |
wages by &c an hour in order to estab- |
fish a Soc hourly rate and then sug
gested designations from the union. |
Many designations did actually follow.
The organizers of the A. F. of L. be-
lieve that it was a studied effort to
break up the new local. However,
George Dudley did not resign from the
union and was determined not to. He
worked on the night shift and one
night about one o'clock four masked
men appeared at his place of work
with pistols, seized him, handcuffed
him. and carried him away into an adj
joining county. The treasurer of the
local union was on the premises him
self and witnessed the kidnapping. The
negro was taken into another county,
severely beaten and told that he was
being beaten because he did not get
out of the union and that unless he
did he would be beaten again. And
they told him that they did not intend
that negroes should join the union
and that he should tell the union rep
'esentatIve who was organizing
here that "they would get him too"
rhe charge was made that it was the
gu Klux Khan that was responsible
or the assault. The officers of the
<lan have denied this.
Union Members Will Be Protected /
However that may be, William
1reen, president of the American Fed
ration of Labor land George Gouge,
irector of the southern organization
rive, and himself the president of 1
he Georgia State Federation of Labor, !
ook strong position, and are deter !
mined to protect not only Gordon but
II their other members against this 4
ind of violence. The union, through, i
iouge, has protested to the governor
f Georgia, the Honorable Ellis Arnall,
nd it is anticipated that the law Of
icers of the state will see that pro-
ection is given to individuals who
egitimately desire to join the union \
nd have the benefits of union mem
ership and union activity.
Some unions have been accused of
aving plenty of prejudice themselves
gainst the minority group and in this
rive it is heartening to see that the