St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-09-01
Labor Day In 1850

Labor Day in 1850 has greater significance the worker
of Negro ancestry than in any other year This so be-
there members of the trade
and industrial unions than before in the history of
ganized labor.
For fifty years after the Emancipation labor unions
the suspect list of the average Negro toe This
was spite Of the full participation Negroes such
the United Mine Workers The ALL leadership under Sam
ue GOmpes for reason did not see in the Negro worker
the bulk of whom agricultural workers. rich potential
union material
When World War came along and huge numbers of
Negro workers from the rural south poured into the industrial
north and its huge factories the unions found it good pol
sign up these workers Often they up aux
iary unions but in the forward internationally they
distinction
1t was not until the appearance however, the American
Of the Congress of Industrial Unions CO that Amer
Negroes began look with favor and trust toward the
organized labor The full confidence of this segment
of the population still somewhat diluted by the fact that
there still approximately IL unions which bar nonwhtes
Among this group the powerful RR broherhood Unwrt
ten agreements between the major railroads and these unions
have the effect of keeping such jobs conductors brakemen
engineers and other good paying railroad jobs ywhite
Even in these unions there is growing ferment of sent
men against the exclusion clauses in the bylaws which
make impossible for Negro to aspire to the position of
duotor engineer the cotry rail transportation system
Negro workers beginning to take active part in
the organized labor movement nationally Their influence in
the Auto Workers resulted in that union financing long fight
to end discrimination in organized bowling The Brotherhood
of Sleeping furnished of the money which
has been used battle against armed forces segregation and
discrimination As result in at least two branches of the
armed forces segregation is disappearing to the good of the
In unions Negroes hold such jobs shop stewards region
al directors and national officers several unions notably the
JAW, the United Mine Workers. the United Packing House
Workers and Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union
The great influence Of organized labor with the exception
Of few has backed such things the Truman
civil rights program In many cities the trade union movement
has become interested in the human relations They
have aided the NAACP and in cities the Urban League
The suspicion with which the Negro worker viewed the
labor union has changed to OF friendship participation and
strong labor consciousness.
Organized labor has long way. 1t is destined TO
long way further in establishing pension plans which will
make the old of the worker less insecure 1t has revolutions
lied working conditions and the hours of work and
Despite its gains for the workers. production of the American
worker has increased many times
Organized labor will continue improve the lot of the
worker and the country by learning that has stake in
seeing shop and factory production keeps at good
level and that business and investment capital has
chance for reasonable profit that the wheels of industry
viii continue to turn.
Labor unions also might with profit cash their present
popularity with Negro workers by reexamnng the racial
policies of some of the unions and insisting that all labor unions
operate in democratic fashion and keeping with the Amer
creed that admits discrimination based creed
color national origin This is the great challenge before
American Labor as it celebrates Labor Day in 1850