Evening star., 1960-03-14
LABOR
Meony Says Job Bias Hurts Unions,
Violates Constitution of AFL-CIO
Continued From First Page

OOA OWA a44AAAdOCd B1OuPo blICIIlS
selves are guilty of practicing
discrimination"
Right here in the District
Of Columbia" he continued,
"for instance, there are local
unions whose membership and
whose apprentice rolls are
closed to Negro applicants"
Contract Provision Cited
He apparently was referring
mainly to Local rs of the In
ternational Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers, which bars
Negro members. The Presi-
dents Committee on Govern
ment Contracts, of which Mr..
Meany is a member, is trying
to break down this color bar by
pressing contractors on two
Federal building projects here
to hire qualified Negro elec-
tricians directly, bypassing the
union.
Discriminatory practices, Mr..
Meany said, violate every
basic tradition of the free trade
union movement (and) are in
direct conflict with the, clear
provisions of the (AFL-CIO)
constitution"
Although "this is not a sim
pie problem" he said, "the con-
stitution of the AFL-CIO must
be enforced" He continued:
I'VE must put an end to this
hateful evil of discrimination
whenever and. wherever it oc-
ours, whether it be in a local
union or an international un-
ion. Our good faith is at stake.
We can prove it only by our
actions"
Calls for Reason
Replying to the argument
that members of some unions
have voted democratically to
bar Negroes, Mr.. Meany said:
Il am not impressed. 1t is
up to local union leaders to
convince their members to lis
ten to reason. 1t is up to inter-
national union presidents to
exert effective leadership on
this question"
He congratulated the build
ing and construction trades de-
partment for asking the PreSi-
dents committee to notify it
of discrimination complaints,
and for pledging to try to cor
rect discriminatory practices.
Mr.. Meany emphasized three
Of labor's legislative goals: An
increase and extension of the
Federal minimum wage, medi-
cal insurance for social security
pensioners and Federal stand
ards for unemployment COM
pensation.
Administration Hit
Demanding Government pro-
grams aimed at economic ex-
pansion, he charged that the
Eisenhower administration has
followed a policy of immobili-
zation. 1t has Rugged the status
quo and relied on the goal of a
balanced budget for salvation"
Richard J. Gray, retiring
president Of the building and
construction trades department,
said in a speech opening the
conference that the Govern
ment can best insure against a
depression by helping to build
schools, housing, airports, roads
and industrial production IA
c!lities in depressed areas.
"The depression psychology
now giving Wall Street a bad
case Of the filters can be quick
ly and effectively overcome if
Congress and the President
unite on a long-term construc-
tion program to meet the Ma
tion's urgent needs" he said.
No Visible Reaction
The delegates, some of whom
represent unions that discrim-
mate against Negroes, did not
react visibly to Mr.. Meany's
remarks. ...
Senator Kennedy went all
out in promising that Congress
will vote this year on legisla-
ton to permit picketing of
construction sites when non-
un:c.r workers are employed by
one Of the subcontractors. Un-
der existing law, such picketing
can be prohibited as an illegal
secondary boycott.
The presidential contender
said action to stimulate con-
struction of schools, housing,
airports and other facilities
should be mo. l on the agenda
of the next President and the
next Congress"
The Senator also called for
an increase in the Federal
minimum wage from 81 to S1.25
an hour together with extern
sion of coverage, establishment
of Federal standards for un-
employment compensation and
the reversal of the Eisenhower
administration high interest
tight money policies"
Aimed at Nixon
Taking a dig at Vice Presi-
dent Nixon. Senator Kennedy
said some people seem to think
presidential contenders should
appear only at such functions
as the Olympic Games, the
Rose Bowl and other sports
events. Senator Kennedy said
he believes anyone who wants
to be President has to get out
Of the locker room and on the
streets where the people live
and work"
Secretary Mitchell, joining in
support of legislation on pick
citing by construction unions,
reminded the delegates that