The Omaha guide., 1946-06-22
League Asks ].
Full-use of NegroBuild
ing Trade Workers

pan League urged Emanuel Ler-
ner, Labor Branch Director Of
the National Housing Agency, to
act to insure the proper use of
Negro Labor as mechanics in the
emergency housing program re-
Gently authorized by Congress-, Jul
Illus A. Thomas, the Leagues In
dustrial Relations Director. re-
vealed today. MIA has already
estimated that more than one
million additional workers must
be recruited and trained for the
new emergency housing program
for veterans. A shortage is anti
cipated in the bricklaying, elect
rician, and plastering occupations
and other phases of building con-
%struction.
Reviewing the experiences OF
Negro building mechanics during
the public housing program of
the thirties, the Urban League
stated that unless definite action
is taken by the Labor Expediter
to protect the job rights Of Negro
veterans and other building ira
des workers, discriminatory Mir
ing and union practices would ell
inmate many competent men.
The League statement, sent to
Mr.. Lerner in the form of a re-
port, named the International
Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
and the United Association of
Journeyman, Plumbers, and Steam
filters, as building trades unions
which manage either to exclude
Negro workers or limit the num-
Der employed in these fields.
Other mechanics in the industry
the statement read, while not EN-
tirely excluded from union EN-
bership, will be disadvantaged be-
aus of the tendency on the part
of union officials to discourage
them in their efforts to secure
union status.
Although records show the mum
Der of Negro mechanics declined
steadily during the past two de-
cades, the League reported that
because a majority of the Negro
people were used in engineering
units a considerable number were
trained as carpenters, electricians,
plumbers. and sheet metal work
ers, These Negro veterans should
qualify for employment in the
housing construction program with
much less additional training than
is required in the regular apr
entice program, the League point
ed out.
To give the Labor Branch Di-
rector a partial picture of Negro
employment in the building trad
es field the Urban League submit
ted summarized reports from q
League affiliates. Only nine Of
the 81 cities-Akron, Boston, De-
troit, Chicago, Cleveland, New
York, Newark, Philadelphia, and
Portland, Oregon-reported a
fairly consistent policy of Negro
indignation in trade unions. and
where there were exceptions the
electricians and plumbers unions
were named. The Cleveland Urban
League reported that through an
off the record agreement with
these unions electrical workers
and plumbers) Negro plumbers
and electricians are permitted to
work freely for Negro clientele in
the Negro areas.
Mr.. Thomas stated that all To-
cal Urban Leagues, IN "a cities
throughout the country, r reg
istering veterans who received
training in the building instruct
ion crafts while serving in the
armed forces, and are contracting
local home builders and represen-
tatives of construction firms who
are expected to receive contracts
for new houses under the emer-
gene program.
Much of the effort to facilitate
the employment of Negro mech
anics should be concentrated at the
level of actual construction-in
the local community, Thomas said
but this task will require all Of
the support that can come from
the National Housing office.