Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1962-04-20
Vice-PreS. Johnson
Reports On Nine
Months Job Proorun1

washing IOIli -. -. - vice HreSl-
dent Johnson reported today to
President Kennedy that "signifi-
cant progress" has been made in
the past year toward achieving
equal employment opportunity
both in government and in gov
eminent contract employment.
AS Chairman of the Presidents
Committee on Equal Employment
Opportunity, the Vice President
presented to the President a re-
port covering the first nine months
of the Committees operation,
April 7, 1861 to January IS, 1862.
He was joined in submitting the
report by Secretary Of Labor Gold
berg, Vice Chairman, and Assist
ant Secretary of Labor Jerry R.
Holleman, Executive Vice Chair
man.
Although substantial progress
has been made in the first year,
we necessarily have devoted con-
siderable effort to laying the
groundwork for even more eff
fective programs in the years
ahead" the Vice President de-
clared. 1--WE are now prepared not
only to process complaints more
quickly but also to develop more
effective affirmative action pro-
grams in the field of equal en-
ployment opportunity"
Included with the nine-month
report was a supplementary state
ment covering complaints handled
by the Committee through March
80. This statement showed that
the Committee received in its first
year total of 1850 complaints,
compared with a combined total
of zoos received by the old Presi-
dents Committee on Government
Contracts (1,042 complaints, 1853
196O) and the Presidents Com
mittee on Government Employ
ment Policy (1,O53 complaints,
1955-196O).
In government employment, the
report showed 1,146 complaints
filed, 1853 disposed of, with cor
receive action taken in 1913 or SO
per cent.
In contact employment, the re-
port showed 704 complaints filed,
1856 disposed of (139 corrective &C
ton, 76 dismissed as without
cause, SO dismissed for lack of
jurisdiction, Is dismissed for fail
ure of compliments to provide
necessary information). Thus, cor
receive action was taken in IS per
cent of the 215 complaints car
ried through to completion.
1T is difficult, if not impossible,
to measure progress in this field
in terms of numbers or percent !
ages, particularly over the short
range" the report declared. Real
progress is shown, however, in
minority employment trends, af-
flrmative actions taken and sig
nificant "breakthroughs" in some
fields of work, both in government
and in private industry"
The Committee report listed the
following Significant develop
ments" in the first nine months:
1. Every executive agency and
some non-executive agencies Of
the Federal Government have TAX /
en- affirmative steps to insure
equal employment opportunity for
all employees and applicants for /
employment.
2. Affirmative steps for insur-
ing equal opportunity have been |
taken by a sizeable number of
business firms, either through the
Plans for Progress program or as
a result of complaints filed with |
the Committee.
3. Agencies are developing man.
power capability for effective OPP
Grafton of affirmative action pro-
grams with government contrac-
tors.
4. The compliance report system |
of the Committee will provide for |
the first time information on min
ority group employment necessary
for the development of affirmative |
programs on a broad scale.
S. The Committee has launched |
an educational and international |
program aimed at developing
greater incentive on the part Of
minority group persons to train |
for the fields of employment in
which the doors are being opened
or opened wider - and to see to
it that the training is available.
6. Programs of affirmative ac-
ton in labor unions, similar to
and patterned after the Plans for
Progress in industry, are being
developed.
7. Concrete steps are being
taken to insure equal opportunity |
in apprenticeship and training
programs and in government en- /
ployment services.
The tiny West African country |
of Gabon has the highest percent
ACE of school-apa children In |