Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-08-31

nelped ana are helping to tals1ty
the meaning Of Labor Day.
Discrimination has crept into
many labor organizations in Min
neapolis and Minnesota and a Ne
gro's chances Of becoming a union
member in some various locals
are less than If he were a white
person.
There are approximately 1880
Negroes of a population of $50, 900
people in Minneapolis. The ratio
of 2% is even less in labor organ
izations.
There is only one Negro among
membership Of thousand
whites" according to J. B. Hall,
secretary-treasurer Of the Mime
apolis Typographical Union num-
Der AZ. I'VE have not had applica-
tons from Negroes as journeymen
or apprentices" said Hall, There
have been about six Negroes in
the last five years affiliated with
our union, but they left town for
some unknown reason"
Education is a vital stepping
stone to the doors of membership
in most Minneapolis unions. Some
demand a higher education than
others.
The Newspaper Guild of the
Twin Cities is among the labor
organizations that demand of its
members a higher education. The
Guild has a membership of 1856 in
Minneapolis and only one person rs
Negro and he is employed out of
town. In fact, he works for the
nations State Department, but
holds membership with the Min
neapolis Newspaper Guild. His
name - Carl T. Rowan.
Perhaps, Mr.. Rowan is the only
Negro ever to ask to join the Min
neapolis Newspaper Guild, If SO,
why have there not been more Ne
groes in Minneapolis joining the
Guild? Editors Note: The Guild
constitution expressly forbids race
discrimination in the matter Of &C
ceptance of individuals for men,
bership. In the history Of the Guild
this newspaper does not know Of a
single Instance where any Negro
has been denied membership in the
Newspaper Guild on account Of
race or color.
The Electrical Workers Local
100 has about 16,50o members Of
which several dozen are Indians
and relatively few are Negroes &C
cording to E. I. Malone, business
representative. There is absolute
ly no segregation in Local $780,"
said Malone, I'VE will take any
person Of any minority as long as
he is qualified to do the work"
Further explaining the constitu-
ents Of Local 100, Malone said,
1.-THE lack Of education among
minority individuals is the reason
we have such a large number Of
whites. Minority persons are good
workers, but their qualifications
are low which rules them out OF
many jobs" he continued:
Most Of the linemen," said Ma
lone, "go to a trade school over
which we have no jurisdiction, but
such a prerequisite makes it east
er for a person to get job"
Six In Bartenders Local
The Bartenders Union Local 152
Of which F. R. Frawley is secre-
tary-treasurer has a membership
Of about 10000 persons and six are
Negroes. They have not come to
us seeking membership" was
Frawley's comment justifying the
wide white-Negro division Of men,
bers. There's only one Negro bar
in town and this may be the rea-
son for the varied ratio of white
Negro members" concluded Fraw-
ley.
Six Among Dairy Employees?
Not knowing exactly how many
Negroes belong to the Milk Drivers
and Dairy Employees Union Local
All, George N. Bergquist, secre-
tary-treasurer, made an estimate
of about six among a 2,70o men,
bership. 'Minorities are not inter-
ested in our jobs" said Bergquist,
"One-half Of our membership IL
made up Of persons living in rural
communities. Those minorities
that are members Of our union live
in the city Of Minneapolis" .,
Ten or IL Among Carpenters and
Floorlayers
Lorenz w. Heinemann, financial
secretary Of the Carpenters and
Floorlayers Local 1864, said. there
are about 10 or ~ Negroes among
our 10000 members In the Twin
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