Weekly Report

OUTSTANDING EVENTS AND PROBLEMS

Two regional successes in handling difficult problems which may have resulted in some extreme racial tension are noted in the reports of the current week. Regional Director Brin of Dallas indicated that the problem at the Republic Oil Refining Company, Texas City, Texas, mentioned in last week’s report, has been settled.¹ The company indicates that it is hiring Negroes at the rate of eighty-three cents an hour rather than sixty-five cents, as it had originally planned to do. It will be recalled that white workers had threatened a walkout if the Negroes were hired at the sixty-five cents rate. Mr. Brin indicates the situation is now in hand. Also in Region X, the Delta Shipbuilding Company presented a problem mentioned in last week’s report. Mr. Brin indicates that this is currently in hand, but he does not state that all of the problems involved have been finally settled. I am preparing a letter to Admiral Vickery concerning the Delta Shipbuilding Company, which we can send as soon as we have a full report on the whole case from Mr. L. Virgil Williams, the examiner who visited the yard.²

In Region III, the Director, Mr. Fleming, reported last week that Mr. Manly, an examiner on his staff, was active in the settlement of a walkout which had resulted in a shutdown of the Carnegie Steel Plant, Clairton, Pennsylvania. Mr. Fleming’s report of March 4 states that Mr. Manly prevented a spread of the shutdown which would have affected adversely production in the area for approximately thirty days.³

At this point, it seems advisable to call attention to similar problems which are acute in various sections of the country. In Region XII, the Los Angeles Street Railway case, 12-BR-1150, DFO, and the problems of discrimination by the Hanford Engineering Company at Pasco, Washington, represent possible sources of racial tension.⁴ Also in Region XII, the unresolved problems at Las Vegas in connection with the Basic Magnesium Company are of importance.

In Region X, the North American Aviation Company’s policy at Dallas has resulted in considerable ill feeling between the racial groups employed at the plant. This matter has been directed to the attention of the company by Mr. Brin, the Regional Director, and I have discussed it with the CIO Committee to Abolish Discrimination.

In Region IX, the U. S. Cartridge Company, and the Western Cartridge Company at East Alton in Region VI are also in this group.⁵

At the Kingsbury Ordnance Plant, La Porte, Indiana, difficulties based upon segregated employment policies are a problem for the Director of Region VI.

The employment policies of Bell Aircraft Company in Atlanta and problems connected with the strike at the Western Electric Company in Region IV are still before us. In all of these cases, the regional offices are at work to correct the problems which have arisen, but it is well to keep them in mind as potential trouble spots.

Mr. Hunt, Director of Region VII, has called to our attention certain violations of our agreement with the War Manpower Commission on the part of local WMC offices in his region. However, he has not indicated that he desires any Washington action at this time.

IMPORTANT CONTACTS WITH REGIONAL OFFICES, OTHER DIVISIONS, AND OTHER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

Region IX has been informed that it does have jurisdiction over the Kansas City Stockyards case, as ruled by the Legal Division.⁶

We have been advised by Mr. Brin, the Director, that there are no unadjustable cases in Region X, except 10-BC-174 and 10-BC-176, referred to the DFO on February 1, 1944.

Other questions arising on Weekly Reports of Regional Directors have been answered and are attached.

ASSIGNMENTS TO CENTRAL STAFF

Mr. Bloch:

Completed Assignments:

1. The following FDR’s have been acted upon by Mr. Bloch:
   Region I—2
   Region II—7
   Region III—28

Mr. Bloch’s comments on some of these Final Disposition Reports are attached.

1. Memorandum on Screen Actors Guild, 12-UA-1126.
2. Prohibition against racial, religious, or color discrimination in federal Civil Service.

New Assignments:

1. Civil Service Commission, 2-GR-411, DFO.
2. Revision of memorandum on major cases submitted February 1, 1944.
3. Bridgeport Hospital, 1-BR-47, DFO.
4. U.S. Naval Medical Supply Depot, 2-GR-194, DFO.
5. Army Air Forces, 12-GR—, DFO (No number assigned as yet).
6. The following FDR’s:
   Region I—2
   Region II—4
   Region III—28
7. Checking on year old cases in Regions III and VII.

Miss Kahn:

Completed Assignments:

Miss Kahn has reviewed, under my supervision, the following FDR’s:
Region V—22
Region VI—13

2. She has also reviewed and submitted comments on the Curtis Company, 9- BR-72, DFO.

New Assignments:  

1. Checking on year old cases in Regions VI, VIII, IX, and XII.
2. St. Louis Ordnance Department, 9-GR-138, DFO.
3. Marinship Company, 12-BR-240, DFO.
4. Review of files on 12-UR-203, 12-UR-16, 12-UR-32, 12-GR-55.
5. The following FDR’S:
   Region VI—7
   Region XII—16

Mr. Mitchell:

Assignments Completed:

1. Preparation of Shell Oil file for submission to Hearings Division.
2. Arranging clearance for Regional Director Hunt to Bell Aircraft Company, Atlanta, Georgia.⁷
3. Discussions with CIO on union problems at North American Aviation Company in Dallas, Texas.

Other assignments completed are attached.