St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-08-30
Dear Joe
By JAMES L. HICKS
CUT RATE

Three weeks ago this column
criticized colored business organi-
cations for not hiring more colored
veterans in on-the-job training po-
sitions.
Since the appearance of the col
umn readers have written in to say
that the criticism was rather harsh
because many small colored bust
nesses would be glad to hire vet
Grams but that they were unable to
meet the minimum rates required to
hire a man in an on-the- job spot.
Some Of the letters asked what was
the minimum wage at which they
could hire a veteran in an on-the-
job training position.
Here Is the answer:
The Fair Labor Standards Act of
1888 requires an employer, as a
statutory obligation, to pay any
person, not specifically exempt, who
is suffered or permitted to work in
commerce or in the production Of
goods for commerce, without re-
gard to other source Of income, a
minimum of 40 cents an hour. The
Walsh Healy Public Contracts Act
requires all persons employed by a
contractor on work subject to its
provisions be paid not less than the
applicable minimum wages as de-
termined by the Secretary Of Labor.
That's all very true, Mr.. Bust
nessman, and any way you look
at il, Il adds up to 40 cents an
hour which anyone in business
should be willing to pay, BUT:
Public Law 16 Of the Seventy
eighth Congress states that when
a prospective employer-trainer, as
a condition precedent to his accept
ance of q trainee for on-the- job
training, indicates he will not meet
the minimum wage requirements of
the Fair Labor Standards Act and
the Walsh-Healy Public Contracts
Act, the use of such training facility
will not be favorably considered un-
less az other opportunities for the
desired training neither exist nor
are available in the veterans COM
munity; and (2) the trainee's dis
abilities preclude initial entrance
into training at the minimum wage
otherwise applicable.
Public Law 16 also states that
when, after investigation, these con-
ditions are found to exist, vocation
al rehabilitation officers are au-
thoriZed to approve induction in
training on the job at subminimum
rates.
So Mr.. Businessman, IL you
can't pay 10 cents an hour and
can prove you are not able to pay
II, the VA Is willing to break the
law so you can hire q veteran for
less. The main thing Is to give
that veteran a job. As to disabled
veterans, statistics show that
when you get a disabled man who
can do q job, he is a better man
on the job than 4 non-disabled
veteran.
Any more questions Legal class
dismissed,
Attention veterans Of New York,
Ohio and Washington, d. c.! Major
Oscar Jones Of the Veterans EN-
ployment Service in Washington,
Mr.. Grin Smith Of the YES in Ohio
and the YES officer for the State
Of New York are all planning on
hiring ex-eolored soldiers to handle
the problems Of eolored veterans in
their areas. The jobs will be on the
policy making level and carry with
them a good salary.
In Washington Major Jones has
his eyes on 4 former commander
of the American Legion Post here,
who Is an employee Of the United
States Employment Service.
Attention all unemployed veter-
ansl Congress has appropriated
money for 400 more good paying
Jobs In the Veterans Employment