Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1950-09-01

Labor Day In 1860 has greater significance to the worker
Of Negro ancestry than other previous This be-
there NegroAmsrCan members Of the trade
and industrial unions than before In the history Of
ganzed labor.
For fifty years after the Emancipation labor unions
the suspect list" Of the Negro toler This
AZ the United MIN. workers. The AL leadership uDdc
ue QOmpera for did not the Negro worker
the bulk Of whom agricultural workers. rich potential
union material
Negro workers from the rural south poured into the industrial
north and it, huge factories the unions found good pol
10y TO sign these workers Often they set aux
larry unions but in the more forward International they
were accepted full members without discrimination racial
distinction
II not until the appearance however the American
Of the Congress Of Industrial Unions CO) that Amer
Negroes began TO look with favor and trust toward the
organized labor movement The full confidence Of this
Of the population 10 still somewhat diluted by the fact that
there are still approximately II unions which bar nonwhes
Among this group are the powerful RR brohehOods Unwr
ten agreements between the major railroads and these unions
have the effect Of keeping such jobs conductors brakeman
engineers and other good paying railroad jobs ywhite
Even In these unions there growing ferment Of sent
ment against the exclusion clauses in the bylaws which
make impossible for Negro to aspire to the position of
duOtor engineer the county rail transportation system
Negro workers beginning to take active part in
the organized labor movement nationally Their influence in
the Auto Workers resulted that financing long fight
70 end discrimination In organized bowling The brotherhood
Of Sleeping Car PorerS furnished Of the money which
has been used battle against armed forces segregation and
discrimination Al result in at least two branches of the
armed forces segregation disappearing to the good of the
In unions Negroes hold such jobs shop Stewards region
al directors and national officers In several unions notably the
UAW the United Mine Workers. the United Packing House
Workers and Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union,
The eat influence Of organized labor with the exception
Of few International has backed such things the Truman
civil rights program In many cities the trade union
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 Of friendship participation and
Q strong labor consciousness.
Organised labor has long way II is destined go
long way further in establishing pension plans which will
make the old Of the worker less insecure II has revolution
Eed working conditions and the hours Of work and pay rates
Despite s gains for the workers. production Of the American
worker has Increased many times
Organised labor will continue to improve the lot Of the
worker and the country by learning that has stake
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
will continue TO turn.
Labor unions also might with profit cash their present
popularity with Negro workers by recSAmning the racial
policies Of Of the unions and insisting that all labor unions
operate democratic fashion and in keeping with the Amer
creed that admits discrimination based creed
color national origin This the great challenge before
American Labor v II celebrates Labor Day in 1850