Bi-Weekly Report

In line with the procedure being following by regional directors, I am submitting a bi-weekly report instead of the former weekly arrangement.

During the past two weeks I have met with officials of the National Lead Company concerning complaints in St. Louis. One of the cases will be satisfactorily adjusted by the company and it appears that two others will be dismissed on merits unless St. Louis can furnish us with a refutation of the arguments that the company says it will present in writing. However, the basic issue of upgrading is still unresolved because of a case pending before the War Labor Board. I have arranged to have a conference with WLB on this matter.

Mr. Bloch and I have been following closely developments in the Shell Oil case. The War Department is very active on this matter as well as PAW.¹

The Navy Department is at work on complaints against the Brown Shipbuilding Company in Houston, Texas as requested by me.

A strike occurred at the Combustion Engineering Company in St. Louis when a Negro was placed on the job as a welder. Unfortunately the issue was not resolved because the employee quit before the Boilermakers Union took action to order the strikers back on the job. I discussed this matter with Mr. Boris Shiskin of the Committee, who promised to call Mr. McGowan in Kansas City. I have had no report from Mr. Shiskin, but I have asked Mr. Hoglund to determine what action was taken by the Boilermakers at Mr. Shiskin’s request.²

In a separate memorandum I have discussed my conference with Mr. Ivan Willis, National Manager of Industrial Relations for the Wright and Curtis Wright Companies.³ We talked about complaints filed against the St. Louis plant.

ASSIGNMENTS

The following cases were returned to the regions during the period of April 9–21:

Amarillo Army Air Base, 10-GR-445
Letterman General Hospital, 12-GR-606

The following FDR’s have been reviewed and acted upon by me: