Eleanor F. Rogers, Memorandum of Clarence Mitchell's Telephone Call from Mr. Roy A. Hoglund and Mr. Ernest G. Trimble, St. Louis, Missouri

On the above date, Mr. Hoglund called from St. Louis, Missouri, with regard to USES cooperation during the forthcoming hearings and other matters. Mr. Trimble was also on the line in St. Louis and Mr. Reeves in Washington.¹

Mr. Trimble stated that we should get permission from the USES for one man to bring records and testify on all the companies involved. Mr. Hoglund stated that the Area Representatives of WMC did not know how much information they were authorized to disclose.

You suggested that Mr. Hoglund get Mr. McDonald, WMC Regional Director, to authorize the release of the information. You informed Mr. Hoglund that Mr. Wertz of WMC in Washington has assured us that Mr. Lewis Clymer will testify. You suggested that Mr. Clymer should designate someone who would be friendly and who would have the information needed. You agreed to contact Mr. Wertz again if Mr. McDonald refuses to permit someone to testify on the employment data needed.

You told Mr. Hoglund that a Mr. Carl Pretscheold, formerly with the St. Louis Dispatch and now with PM called Mr. Ross to find out if we knew anything about the situation at Pratt Whitney Company, Kansas City, Missouri. The IAM is supposed to have an agreement with the company that Negroes are not to be used in certain jobs. The IAM does not have a closed shop agreement with the company, according to Mr. Hoglund, but it will not admit Negroes to membership. Mr. Hoglund stated that although he does not know what percentage of Negroes are employed in skilled jobs by the company, there are quite a few so employed. He stated that there is a rumor that the contract has a discriminatory clause in it, but he has no verification of the rumor and, at present, the union is still negotiating for a contract.

Mr. Hoglund stated that the matter requires careful investigation, and they are tied up at present. However, he stated that they would be in Kansas City Monday, July 10, and he wanted to know if this would be time enough. Mr. Hoglund said he will get something out to you on Monday regarding this matter.

You informed Mr. Hoglund that you have received word that the Welders and Carpenters are discriminating against Negroes. Mr. Hoglund said he does not know that they are.

Mr. Hoglund said that Negroes want to file complaints against the union (IAM). He said that he did not believe that such cases should be docketed at present. You informed him that we would not have to docket these complaints, but they could be sent to Washington and used in connection with a conference to be held with Mr. Harvey Brown of the Machinists Union. Mr. Hoglund said that latest developments are that Negroes are reported to be filing complaints with NLRB alleging that the IAM should not be the bargaining agent because it does not represent them. The IAM, he said, has bargaining rights but no contract. You asked Mr. Hoglund if the IAM has bargaining rights with the entire plant or just a unit. Mr. Hoglund replied that the Service Union represents the maintenance employees and the IAM represents production employees.

You talked with Mr. Louis Silverberg, of the NLRB, concerning the bargaining relationship at the Pratt Whitney Plant. He stated that the IAM won an election on April 26, 1944. Apparently, it represents other AF of L unions as well as its own interests. The Carpenters have a separate bargaining agreement. Mr. Silverberg said he did not know of a complaint from Negro workers alleging that the IAM did not properly represent them.

Rogers