Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, 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-
veas that substantial progress
has been made during the past
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 or
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 clio
would make the fight for minority
rights. especially in industry,
more effective than II has been at
any previous time In the history Of
this country.
As evidence OF this, Mr.. zim-
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 union
organization in the merged fed.
Grafton" II furthermore provides
that a committee on civil rights
shall be set up Ito bring about. at
the earliest possible date. the ef-
fective experimentation Of this
principle of non discrimination"
The Jewish Labor Committee
leader observed that the united
federation would include over two
million Negroes. Jews and Puerto
Ricans.
Mr.. Zimmerman also noted that
a comprehensive program OF civil
rights activities for the united la
Dor movement had been outlined
by George Meany at the National
Trade Union Conference on Civil
Rights convened recently by The
Jewish Labor Committee.
This conference initiated n Ma
uonh Trade Union Council OF the
JIG whose purpose II will be 10
work In cooperation with the
united labor federation on civil
rights issues.
Among the major developments
cited in the Jewish Labor Com
mittee roundup were the follow.
ing:
In Chicago the C1O Packing
house Workers Union succeeded in
getting Armour and Company. one
Of the nations largest meat pack
ing concerns and holder Of a large
government contract. 10 abandon
it's traditional policy Of not hir-
ing Negroes M office workers,
statesmen and technlcians. The
union was aided In the negotia.
tons by the Presidents Commit
tee on Government Contracts.
In n Cancellation agreement
with the Massachusetts, Com
mission Against Discrimination.
the Pullman Company OF Chica.
70 agreed % abandon q s0-year.
old policy Of restricting oatsgor-
ies Of employment % certain ra-
oiaI groups. As . result Of this.
n wider selection Of Jobs win BE-
open 20 both white and Negro
employees.
Last fall. delegates 10 the con
vention OF the National Associa.
ton OF Letter Carriers voted 10
turn down applications for char.
ters from new groups planning to
set up segregated locals.
The Go Newspaper Guild has
started n campaign 10 get the
nations newspaper owners To
stop discriminating against Ne.
gro Job applicants. Practically
no newspapers hire Negroes ~
reporters, copy boys, proof read
er~. or In advertising and other
professional Jobs.
The ALL Bricklsycrs local In
Dade County. Florida. has agreed
10 accept IS Negroes u fun mem
bers. The change followed q series
o. negotiations with the National
Association for the Advancement,
Of CoIored people
Negro staKehands viii b. al.
nlItted, for the first tin,e. To fun
membership In the New York
local 81 the International Al. /.
IlaBoe Of Theatrical Stage I'm
pIoy"es. and. a. q result Of the
unions agreement with the New
York state sornrnls.Ion Against
Discrimination, Local Al. an
AJI-SeEro affiliate ~ the union.
will h. Dissolved.
The Capitol Transit Company.
one 81 the largest employers In
Washington, agreed 70 hire quail.
fed Negro drivers, following
many years % die-hard resistance .
On the part ~ the company and .
the union. Tho PresIsert's Com I
ritiss ~ Government Contracts
few months earlier. The ~, L0uS