Mr. Malcolm Ross, Chairman
Clarence M. Mitchell, Director of Field Operations
United Packinghouse Workers of America, CIO
April 8, 1946
In general, the statement of the Packinghouse Workers is a factual presentation of their problems and their progress. Although FEPC has not had extensive experience in the meat-packing industry, it has been my good fortune to be reasonably well informed on conditions in this industry because of knowledge gained in St. Paul.1
Although a considerable number of Negroes are employed in many plants, they are excluded from the cleaner jobs—especially those dealing with the packaging and grading of meat which is ready for the consumer, such as ham, bacon, etc. This has a particularly adverse effect on Negro women in that these are the jobs that are suitable for female employment.
Before I came to FEPC, we (with Dr. Weaver in WMC, WPB and OPM) had numerous complaints against the meat-packing plants in Omaha. Most of these involved the employment of women. We made some small progress in settling them. Usually we could depend on the representatives of the Packinghouse Workers’ Organizing Committee to be of assistance. From time to time, the complaints which FEPC received were sent by this group.
MS: copy, HqR2, Office Files of Malcolm Ross. Materials for Final Report.
[1] As with other industries, a major concern was retaining or finding new jobs for African Americans. Final Report 50–56. On Mitchell’s experiences with the Urban League in St. Paul, see Watson, Lion in the Lobby 120–22; on discrimination in the meat-packing industry, see Weaver, Negro Labor 78, 194, 232–33, 294.
Document Information
Date:
Author:
Recipient:
All People
Additional Details
Object Type:
Manuscript Type:
Volume:
Volume Page Number:
555
Source Variation:
HqR2, Office Files of Malcolm Ross. Materials for Final Report.