It is stated by the railroads that the reason they desire to employ Negro firemen is because they cannot secure white firemen. This, we are sure, is only a subterfuge because there are large numbers of white men who would like to enter the service of the railroads as firemen or trainmen, and if the present rate of wage is not high enough to operate as an incentive for white men to seek positions as locomotive firemen or railroad trainmen, then the wages should be raised to a figure that would justify white men seeking such employment. It must be apparent to anyone having any knowledge of the situation that the primary purpose of the employment of Negroes in railroad engine or train service at this time is to take advantage of the war excitement and under the pretext of war exigencies install in such occupations a class of labor that can be easily exploited, a class of labor that will work for such wages as the railroad companies see fit to pay them, a class of labor that is not protected by organization, and whose employment would operate to reduce railroad wages to or below the starvation standard, and also to seriously impair the efficiency and greatly weaken the economic power of the four transportation brotherhoods. We are sure this situation affects the other two organizations, and we understand that similar action will be taken by them. Therefore, the four organizations should work concertedly and handle the matter jointly on any railroad on which it is attempted to employ Negroes in engine or train service. I would suggest to our committees when they receive information that their company, even contemplates the employment of Negroes in engine service to immediately communicate this information to the general chairman, and he, in turn, to file a protest, and they will have the support of this organization to prevent the advent of Negro firemen even to the extent of refusing to work when this class of labor is employed. [World War I] [Source: Locomotive Firemen's magazine, September 1, 1917, page 6, LC HD 6350 R35 B8, vol. 63] THE NEGRO FIREMAN QUESTION Acting President Shea's declaration in this connection leaves no doubt as to the position of our brotherhood.. In the August 15 issue Acting President Shea calls attention to the purpose of the railroads under one pretext or another to employ Negroes to fire locomotives. Evidently it is the intention of many railroad managements to put this over if they can get away with it. Now, as a matter of fact, it is not due to any scarcity of labor or to any love that the railroad companies have for the Negro that they desire to employ him in engine service, by no means. An entirely different motive actuates them and that motive is threefold. First. They want to introduce Negroes generally into this field because they do not want to pay white men the wages that the work is worth. Second. They realize that the southern Negro being as a class docile, submissive, and unenlightened, would be an easy victim for their exploitation. Third. The general employment of Negroes as locomotive firemen would materially reduce the membership of our brotherhood and weaken and undermine it and keep wages down. It should be clearly understood that it is not because of any prejudice we entertain against any race or color that we are protesting against the employment of Negroes as locomotive firemen on railroads on which they are not now so employed, or that we object to their being employed on other roads * * * SO many years they have in that capacity operated as an obstruction to the establishment of just wage and employment conditions. Our objection to the employment of Negroes in this capacity arises from the knowledge we have acquired as the result of many years of experience of the extent to which railroad companies use the Negroes to keep white workers down. In his circular, Acting President Shea sets forth that as a result of his protest, the employment of Negroes as locomotive firemen has been discontinued on the B. & O. Railroad and that those who had been in its service are no longer in the employ of that company in that capacity. Acting President Shea also sets forth in his circular in plain and unmistakable language the policy adopted by the advisory board of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers as announced by Grand Chief Stone. The employment of Negroes as firemen would mean also their employment | as brakemen and no doubt many railroad managements would like to have Negro engineers if it were possible to select from amongst Negro firemen any who could be qualified for such a responsible position and the reason these railroad companies would like to do this is because a Negro engineer would be as docilę and submissive to exploitation as would a Negro fireman. In the face of Acting President Shea's circular, there is absolutely no excuse for the railroad companies to misunderstand our position in the matter nor to doubt the determination of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers to support us in maintaining that position, for Acting President Shea clearly and unequivocally has given our general chairman and grievance committees to understand that in opposing the employment of Negroes as firemen on roads where white firemen are at present exclusively employed, they will be supported by this organization even to the extent of instructing their men to refuse to work with this class of labor. [World War II] BROTHERHOOD OF LOCOMOTIVE FIREMEN AND ENGINEMEN STRIKE BALLOT AGAINST HIRING OF NEGRO FIREMEN ON THE ATLANTIC COAST LINE RAILROAD CO. To officers and members of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen and other employees of the classes represented by that organization on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and Charleston & Western Carolina Railway SIRS AND BROTHERS: There was no agreement governing wages and working conditions of locomotive firemen, hostlers, and hostler helpers on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad until 1919, at which time the B. of L. F. & E. secured representation and negotiated an agreement. Only about 20 percent of the firemen were of a promotable character at that time, and, as a result, the company had great difficulty in maintaining enough engineers to take care of its business. Through the efforts of the B. of L. F. & E. understandings were reached from time to time with the management to the effect that promotable men would be hired in greater numbers. In 1925 former General Chairman R. L. Glenn reached a gentlemen's agreement with the management that only promotable men would be hired. White men then and now are classed by the management as promotable, and Negroes were then and are now classed by the management as nonpromotable. There were * * * violations of this gentlemen's agreement between 1925 and 1927, all of which were duly protested, and in most cases corrections were made. However, since 1927 the agreement has been religiously observed, and only promotable firemen were hired until the latter part of 1942. In 1927 the general grievance committee was successful in negotiating an agreement with the management providing that one-third of all assignments would be filled by white men, who, as heretofore stated, are considered promotable by the management. Promotable firemen are required to undergo very strict examinations, promotable firemen are dismissed from the service. Many have been dismissed in the past, and, no doubt, many will be dismissed in the future for failure to pass the examinations. Nonpromotable men never become engineers but continue on as firemen, filling the places where promotable men must get their training. In 1929 the general grievance committee succeeded in revising the agreement to provide that all assignment would be made on a ratio of 50-50 as between white and colored firemen-white firemen being promotable and colored firemen being nonpromotable. Early in November 1942 General Chairman Lee learned, through rumor, that nonpromotable men were being hired as locomotive firemen. He wired General Manager Sibley as follows: Mr. C. C. SIBLEY, General Manager, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Co., NOVEMBER 3, 1942. Wilmington, N. C.: I have information from my local representative at several terminals to the effect that local supervisors advised them that they had authority to employ nonpromotable firemen. Trust this information is erroneous. Please advise if such authority has been granted and if management contemplates employing nonpromotable firemen. Local committees will be glad to cooperate and furnish sufficient promotable applicants if called upon by local supervisors. (Signed) THAD S. LEE. The general manager made no answer to this telegram. On January 17 General Chairman Lee again wired General Manager Sibley and asked that he name a date for conference with the executive committee. November 23 was named, and conference held on that date. Mr. Sibley tried to evade the issue by denying that any instructions had been issued to the employing officers to hire nonpromotable men; notwithstanding, members of the executive committee made it clear that they had been informed by some of the employing officers that they had such instructions. November 24 the executive committee again met the general manager, at which time Vice President Tillery, of the brotherhood, was present. This conference bore no more fruit than the one on the 23d. The gentlemen's agreement was called to the general manager's attention on a number of times, and each time he denied any knowledge of it. After the conference was concluded Vice President Tillery wired former General Chairman Glenn, who is now connected with the Manpower Department of the United States Government. November 25 Brother Glenn replied, and same is herewith quoted. R. J. TILLERY, Wilmington Hotel, Wilmington, N. C.: NOVEMBER 25, 1943-5: 37 P. M. Your wire date conference during May 1925 with F. W. Brown, the assistant manager, it was verbally agreed that no nonpromotable firemen would be hired in the future. During the fall of 1925 some nonpromotable men were hired on the Montgomery district and the Jacksonville district. Practically all of those were eliminated from the seniority roster and I am sure by checking the roster since 1925 you will find that this understanding has been complied with on the system. Efforts were made by Pearsall and Bullock to hire nonpromotable men on Richmond and Fayetteville district and on protest by the committee they were instructed to hire only promotable men. (Signed) R. L. GLENN. An attempt was then made to appeal to Vice President F. W. Brown, however, he declined to meet the officers of the brotherhood. Vice President Tillery finally succeeded in contacting him by telephone, and among other things, called attention to the gentleman's agreement he had with former General Chairman Glenn. Brown denied that he had ever talked with Glenn about the matter. Later Vice President Tillery personally talked with Glenn and he confirmed his statement made by wire, which has heretofore been quoted. After all efforts had apparently failed to effect a settlement through conferences with the management the following letter was sent to General Manager Sibley: Mr. C. C. SIBLEY, WILMINGTON, N. C., December 1, 1942. General Manager, Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, Wilmington, D. C. DEAR SIR Referring our conference November 24, regarding the employment of nonpromotable firemen. You declined to discontinue the practice of employing such men and I have since undertaken to appeal or at least talk with Vice President Brown about the matter. Mr. Brown declined to see me. We made it very clear to you that we were ready and willing to cooperate with the company in securing sufficient promotable men to meet all needs. You made no comment in this connection and, of course, we can only assume the company does not desire our cooperation. We undertook to point out to you and now repeat, that it is unfair to the promotable men to have the jobs as firemen filled with nonpromotable men who apparently have no responsi bilities except to act as firemen and eventually become drones, while the promotable men must study, purchase expensive books, etc., and if they fail to pass the very strict examinations required for them they are removed from the service. The nonpromotable men, therefore, do not contribute to the efficient and safe operation of the railroad. The general public certainly is vitally interested in safety at least. The promotable men now being hired by the Atlantic Coast Line are all Negroes, so far as we know. These Negroes are nonpromotable because the management has decreed that they be nonpromotable. We found, at the conference, that you indicated a desire to discuss discrimination as between the Negro and white race. In that connection you said nothing about the company promoting only white men to the position of locomotive engineers. We are, indeed sorry that the management has taken the position it has in this important matter and hope that upon further reflection our position will be agreed to, as certainly your decision given at the conference will not be accepted. Very truly yours, R. J. TILLERY, Vice President, B. of L. F. & E. Copy to: Thad S. Lee, general chairman, B. of L. F. & E. On December 9, General Chairman Lee convened the entire general grievance committee in Jacksonville, Fla., and after very thorough consideration was given the entire matter the following resolution was unanimously adopted. "Whereas the management of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad entered into a gentlemen's agreement in 1925, or thereabouts with a representative of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen to the effect that no more nonpromotable men would be employed as locomotive firemen and from 1927 to latter part of 1942 this agreement has been fully complied with by the employing officers of the railroad, and "Whereas beginning about November 1, 1942, the management of the railroad began employing nonpromotable men some of whom have now actually established seniority by performing service for pay, and "Whereas the general chairman and the executive committee with the assistance of a grand lodge officer have failed through peaceful negotiations to induce the management to observe the gentlemen's agreement above referred to, and "Whereas through the peaceful negotiations the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen have been unable to effect a settlement of the dispute: Therefore be it "Resolved, That the entire matter be submitted to the membership and other firemen, hostlers, and hostler-helpers on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway Co., in the form of a strike ballot, so that they may decide for themselves whether they will leave the service and participate in a strike in accordance with the laws of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Firemen and Enginemen if a satisfactory settlement cannot otherwise be reached, and be it further "Resolved, That the general chairman with the assistance of the grand lodge officer assigned to assist, is hereby authorized and directed to prepare and forward to the local chairman and assistant local chairman the strike ballot with necessary instructions for taking the vote, and such instructions to include fixing a time and date for counting the vote and announcing the results, and be it further "Resolved, That in event a majority vote in favor of withdrawing from the service, the general chairman and grand lodge officer, shall have authority, with the approval of the international president, to fix a date and time for the strike to become effective and to issue necessary instructions for the conduct of the strike. Jacksonville, Fla., December 9, 1942. The committee then adopted a motion as follows: "That because of the fact that the Jacksonville Terminal Co. is not represented by the management of the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad and the Charleston & Western Carolina Railway, and the further fact that no attempt has been made by the management of the Jacksonville Terminal Co. to violate the agreement by hiring nonpromotable men as locomotive firemen, hostlers, and hostler-helpers, it is the sense of this committee that the resolution, just adopted, providing for the spreading of a strike ballot on the Atlantic Coast Line and Charleston & Western Carolina Railway, will not apply to the Jacksonville Terminal Co., unless the management of the Jacksonville Terminal Co. later violate the agreement by hiring nonpromotable men. In that event, the general chairman and the grand lodge officer assigned, are hereby authorized and directed to arrange for a strike ballot to also be spread on the property." From the foregoing it will be quite evident to you that the management has decided to completely disregard the gentlemen's agreement of long standing without just cause, thereby restoring a condition existing prior to 1925. In other words, all firing assignments of any importance will be filled by nonpromotable firemen. The reason for the management adopting this policy, in the opinion of the committee, is for the purpose of weakening the organizations on the property. Certainly there could be no point in hiring men who cannot, under the management's policy, follow through in any position which they may qualify for promotion. Nonpromotable firemen, regardless of education or ability when hired, will have very little incentive and naturally become drones. They will, however, fill the places where the promotable men must get their training in order to become efficient and safe engineers. Therefore, the appropriate representatives of the organization representing the agreement, after a full review of the circumstances related to the situation, have voted unanimously to refer the matter to the membership and others employed in the capacities represented by the organization, for their consideration and vote as to whether or not they are in favor of peacefully withdrawing from the service and engaging in a legal strike authorized in accordance with the laws of the organization, unless a settlement satisfactory to the general chairman and grand lodge officer assigned can be reached before date strike is scheduled to begin. This statement is submitted for your information. Attached is a ballot on which you will cast your vote for or against a strike. Sign your name, occupation, lodge number, if a member, and place in envelope provided which is marked "ballot," and hand to the party who furnished you with this statement and ballot. Yours fraternally, THAD S. LEE, Approved: R. J. TILLERY, Vice President, B. of L. F. & E. [Copy] BALLOT I have carefully read the attached statement with reference to the hiring of nonpromotable firemen, and hereby cast my vote a strike if (for) (against) settlement satisfactory to the grand lodge officer and general chairman cannot be obtained. I hereby authorize the grand lodge officer assigned and the general chairman or their duly authorized representative to act as my agents or attorneys in the further handling of the matter. Name_ Member B. of L. F. & E. MEMORANDUM ON DISCRIMINATIONS AGAINST NEGRO RAILWAY WORKERS BY BROTHERHOOD OF RAILROAD TRAINMEN 1883. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was organized in 1883 as the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen of the Western Hemisphere, and so continued until 1886. 1884. The first annual convention of the organization in 1884 adopted a constitutional provision restricting membership to "whites" only. 1886. From 1886 to 1889 the organization was known as the Brotherhood of Railroad Brakemen. 1890. The present name of the organization: Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen was adopted in 1890. The Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen by constitution still exclude Negroes from membership in all Southern States. 1898. In 1898 Grand Master Morrissey and the General Grievance Committee, Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen, on the entire Missouri Pacific System met |