St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1955-08-12
Labor Unions
Helped In Civil
Rights Coins


rights field issued by Charles S.
Zimmerman, Chairman of the
Jewish Labor Committees Anti
Discrimination Department re-
veals that substantial progress
has been made during the pas,
year in combating racial and re-
ligious discrimination"
Throughout the country marked
gains were noted in eliminating
discrimination by employers that
continue to practice exclusion OF
segregation. The survey also in
dicated advances in breaking
down restrictive practices on the
part of those few unions that still
exclude or discriminate against
minority groups.
In commenting on developments
during this period. Mr.. thinner,
man stated that the Forthcoming
merger of the AFL and CIC
would make the fight for minority
rights, especially in industry
more effective than II has been al
any previous time in the history OF
this country.
As evidence of this, Mr.. Tim.
norman noted that the draft con.
stitution of the new federation
safeguards the right of all work
ers, without regard to race, creed
color or national origin. to share
in the full benefits of trade unior
organization in the merged fed
Grafton" II furthermore provide:
that a committee on civil right.
shall be set up ito bring about, al
the earliest possible date, the eff
fective augmentation of this
principle of discrimination"
The Jewish Labor Committed
leader observed that the united
federation would include over two
million Negroes, Jews and Puerto
Ricans.
Mr.. Zimmerman also noted that
comprehensive program of civil
rights activities for the united la
Dor movement had been outlined
by George Meany at the Nationa
Trade Union Conference on Civil
Rights convened recently by thu
Jewish Labor Committee.
This conference initiated Ma
tional Trade Union Council Of tn,
JIG whose purpose it will be :,
work in cooperation with tn,
united labor federation on ciH
rights issues.
Among the major development
cited in the Jewish Labor Com
mittee roundup were the follow
ing:
In Chicago the CIO Packing
house Workers Union succeeded II
getting Armour and Company, on,
of the nations largest meat pack
ing concerns and holder of a larg,
government contract. to abandon
its traditional policy Of not hir
ing Negroes as office workers
statesmen and technicians. Tn,
union was aided in the negotia
tons by the Presidents Commit
tee on Government Contracts.
In a Cancellation agreement
with the Massachusetts Com
mission Against Discrimination.
the Pullman Company Of Chica.
go agreed to abandon a 90-year-
old policy Of restricting categor-
fes Of employment to certain ra-
cial groups. As a result OF this.
a wider selection Of jobs win be
open to both white and Negro
employees.
Last fall, delegates to the con.
vention of the National Associa,
ton of Letter Carriers voted to
turn down applications for char
tiers from new groups planning tc
set up segregated locals.
The Go Newspaper Guild has
started a campaign to get the
nations newspaper owners TO
stop discriminating against Ne
gro job applicants. Practically
no newspapers hire Negroes as
reporters, copy boys. proof read
ers, or In advertising and other
professional jobs.
The AFL Bricklayers local in
Dade County, Florida, has agreed
to accept Is Negroes Of full mem
bers. The change followed a series
Of negotiations with the National
Association for the Advancement
Of Colored people.
Negro stagehands Will be ad-
mltted, for the first time. to full
membership In the New York
local Of the International Al.
lance Of Theatrical Stage En-
pIoyees. and. as q result Of the
unions agreement with the New
York State SommIssion Against
Discrimination, Local Al, an
aIl-Negro affiliate Of the union,
win be dissolved.
The Capitol Transit Company.
one OF the largest employers in
Washington, agreed to hire quail
fed Negro drivers. following
many years OF die-hard resistance
on the part Of the company and
the union. The Presidents Com
,.fffss On Covsrrrrs,, Ccr...-,s