Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1960-04-22

working with Mr.. Charles Horn,
Negroes were integrated in the
work force at Twin City Ordinance
as semi-sliIled and skilled work
ers."
1942-Urban League negotia-
tons with Munsingwear Corpora
ton over a period of years resulted
in the employment of Negro men
and women as machine operators
and a clerical worker in the execu-
tive offices"
international Harvester en-
ployed its first Negro women as
machine operators"
2944-"An Urban League survey
Of 800 industrial firms in Mime
apolis revealed that 81 of the firms
employed Negroes, Eighty firms
which did not employ Negroes
agreed to work with the Urban
League to secure Negro workers
and to provide equal opportunity
for upgrading. One hundred sixty
three firms expressed an unwin-
ingness to introduce Negroes into
their work force"
Among the outstanding
placement and upgrading oppor-
tunities the League helped secure
were: assembly line workers at
Ford Motor Co, telephone oper-
ators at Northwestern Bell Tele-
phone Co.. clerk-typists with the
Board of Education and the Univ
ersity of Minnesota, and women
assembly line workers at Honey
well Co"
le47-"Urban League employ
ment placements represented a
number of initial openings and in
cluded a kindergarten teacher in
the Minneapolis Public Schools, a
milkman with Northland Milk Co,
a beautician with Kenwood Beauty
Salon, an accountant with Associ-
ated Activities, a radio repairman
at Boutells and two sales girls
at Powers Dry Goods Co.
1854 major accomplishment
Of this year was the placement for
the first time Of eleven sales girls
in downtown retail stores. Much
of the credit for these new employ
ment opportunities must go to the
Joint Committee for Employment
Opportunity which demonstrated
to the retailers the amount of pub
lie acceptance for this project"
1949-'The Pilot Placement Pro-
ject was successful in obtaining
skilled and professional listings
from General Mills and Minneapo-
lis Honeywell. Persons coming to
the agency with professional COM
potency as electrical engineers,
accountants, etc. were included in
this project
While noteworthy gains are be-
ing accomplished in these areas OF
employment, we are aware of the
fact that discrimination in employ
ment has not been eliminated in
Minneapolis. On the negative side
of the employment ledger a major
area Of employment, the culinary
industry, in which many Negroes
once earned a livelihood, is now
virtually closed to them. Except
for a few isolated instances, Ne
groes are not able to secure Jobs
as walters, mattresses or bartend-
ers in the food and drink serving
establishments in our city. These
jobs represent an area of employ.
ment in which the Negro worker
has lost ground Evidence to sup.
port this statement can be found
in the 1888 Urban League annual
report which pointed out that ir
an effort to maintain a supply Of
well-trained Negro walters. spec.
ial classes in table waiting were
established, and the men who com.
pleted this training were place.
without difficulty. In 1912 tht
Urban League reported as one Of
its industrial relations accomplish,
ments the placement of a number
of Negro women as cafeteria wait
resses on an integrated basis IL
one Of the large downtown depart
ment stores in the city. In 1855
such jobs, in the main, are closec