The Omaha guide., 1956-09-07

for the success of the programs.
The governors of Colorado,
Illinois, Massachusetts,, Nebraska
and Oklahoma and the Commits
sioners of the District of Column
bia issued official proclamations
setting the week of April IS
through 81 aside as Equal Job
Opportunity Week. Similar pro.
elamations we're issued by the
mayors of Baltimore, Chicago,
Columbus, Denver, Grand Rapids,
New York, Norristown, Pa.
Phoenix and Tucson.
The NBC telecast, featuring
Vice President Richard Nixon.
chairman of the Committee, and
the Committees film, "Com.
mencement," was carried in
every u. S. city of one million or
more people and in all but four
of the nations cities of 100000
or more. Cities in this size
which did not carry the program
were Boston, Cincinnati, New
Orleans and Pittsburgh.
The attention attracted to
commencement" by the special
programs and the television
showing has resulted in sharp
increase in the demand for the
film, both from those who wish
to borrow it, and from those who
wish to purchase a print, the
Committee said. The impact OF
the television showing was illus
trated in Baton Rouge, La, the
Committee said. Although civic
groups in the city previously had
shown very little interest in the
picture, its telecast over Station
WBRZ there on April % stimu-
lated several immediate requests
for special showings.
Another example in which the
chain reaction principle operated
to advantage was the recent
series of investigations of dis
elimination complaints in Chica-
60, the Committee said. The
Bureau of Jewish Employment
Problems reported to the Com
mittee that several Chicago en-
ployers, including some who held
Government contracts, we're dis.
eliminating against Jews there.
The Committee investigated the
charges and as a result of its
work, employment opportunities
were improved for members of
all minority groups.
The top executives Of SIS of
the nations largest manufactur-
ing companies came to Washing
ton last October 25 to attend an
Equal Job Opportunity confer
ence called by President Eisen-
hover Since that meeting, when
these men frankly exchanged
views and experiences in estab-
fishing Equal Job Opportunity in
their own companies, several Of
them have taken further action
to improve economic opportunity
for the minority group workers
among their employees.
The Committee points out that
when a major industrial organ
ization adopts Equal Job Oppor-
tunity as a company-wide policy,
the impact is felt in many parts
of the country, wherever the
firm has a branch, a factory or
a subsidiary. The adoption of
an Equal Job Opportunity policy
in company also means that
every future vacancy in the firm
is opened to the best qualified
worker, regardless of his race,
religion or national origin, the
Committee pointed out.
The Committee is working to-
ward a better reporting system
which will give it more up-to-date
knowledge of these increased
opportunities for minority work
ers. Spokesman point out that il
would be impossible to keep
track. of the individual place
ments of minority members, but
that information regarding the
opening Of new areas Of employ
ment to minority workers would
be useful to the Committee in its
work.
Employment opportunities for
Negroes and other minority
workers are improving in many
lines Of endeavor in many parts
of the country. The Committee
llso has found that in some |