office memo
Forti·L OEM-32 (8-7--42)
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge Regional Director Gilbert J. Balkin Fair Practice Examiner Atlanta A. S.F • Depot Case No • 7 -GR-533 This file from that
DATE:'5 /l/46
is with reference to the complaints appearing in the nubject relating to alleged discriminatory · deaotions of Negro employes the job classification "Squad Foreman laborers (Whse.)" to of "Senior Laborer."
As previously advised, I discussed this matter with Lt. Col. Henry Naab, Q1.4. Corps, Director of Personnel, and Mr. Spencer R. Gurvin, Administrative Assistant, at the time of my visit to the subject on April 18, 1945. Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin advised at that time that in May 1944, a classification survey of positions at the subject was made by the office of the QM. General, Washington, D. C., as a result of which many personnel actions were later ordered to be placed in effect by the War Dei;artment, Washington, D. C., includi:cg the demotions contained in the subject file.
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Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin stated that the survey disclosed that maey employes were not performing duties of the classifications in which they were rated, as result of which demotions to other classifications took place. Col. Naab exhibited a file folder in which he stated was contained a large number of demotions which were ordered as a result of the survey. He indicated that the demotions related to all types of positions and affected both graded and ungraded classifications. He stated that he did not know the oolor or the race of the individuals involved in the particular actions. He and Mr. Gurvin stated that all of the employee in the Sq. Foreman of Laborers classification, Grade 4, were Negroes. Mr. Gurvin indicated that the job of Sq. Foreman of Laborers at Grade 4 was abolished as a. result of the above referred to survey and that a mm job of Labor Leader, Grade 4 (one who supervises fran 2 to 8 employes) was set up and that a job classification of Sq. Foreman of Laborers, Grade 5 was retained. The employes involved in this complaint had all been employed in the Grade 4 Sq. Foreman of Laborers~osition. Col. Naab a.nd Mr. Gurvin too~ the position that since all f the employes in the Sq. Foreman of laborers, Grade 4, were N groes to start with, that there could be no discrimination involved because of race or color as result of the personnel action taken, since there was only one group and not two groups involved. Relative to
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge
-2- .
May 1, 1945
the charge that the complainants, upon being demot ed to Senior I..a:bo~er received a wage increase, .Col. Naab and Mr. 'Gurvin stated that this 1'8.S a "By-Product" of the personnel action and not the purpose of such action. Col. Naab explained that established War Department policy provides that when an ·individual. is demoted, he does not in any event receive a 10.er wage rate 'than he was receiving in his former classification and that if there is no wage rate step in his new classification corresponding exactly to that received by him in the former classification, the employe then is paid the next higher step in the lower classification. This 118.8 the result in the case of the demotions with respect to the complainants; therefore, Col. Naab explained, these anployes actually re• ceived a wage increase upon being demoted to the lower classification. On April 30 1 1945• in response to my letters to him of April 19 and April 23, 1945, Mr. Roosevelt Lowe, 76 Pulton Stre~ s. E., Atlanta, Ga., one of the complainants involved in this action, called at this office. Mr. Lowe stated that he had been employed at the subject for 5 years and that at one time, 'While classified as a Sq. Foreman of Laborers, he did direct the worl!:: of other employes in the loa.ding and unlc:ading of box cars. He stated, however, that just before his demotion to the classification of Sr. I..a:borer, he did not have any employes under him. This was i n confirnation of his statement appearing in the pen and ink memorandum attached to the file which stated that "Mr. Lowe has never performed duties of a Sq. Foreman, i.e., nev er direoted work of others. 0 This stat ement of Mr. Lowe• s appears to corroborate the statement of Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin that the delIX)tions involved i n these complaints were t h e result of a classification survey based on an analysis of t he duties actually being performed by the employes in the ol ssification and were not plaoe d in eff ect because of the employes ' r&oe or color. Mr. Lowe stated that he is still classified as a Sr. !;1.borer, being in the top step in this grade, and receiving a rate of 62t per hour. He stated that his duties are to weigh packages, mark the weight on them, and route pa.c kages. He stated that white wanen pa.eked the materials in boxes in the war~house in which he works and that he often catches mistakes in their piblcing and in weighing the packages. He also stated, however, that thmre are 4 colored packers in the warehouse in which he works, f/:207, and that there are but 2 white women pa ckers. He stated t hat the 4 polored packers are pa.id in the sams. grade as the white women packers. I queried him as to how the colored employes got to be packers in this warehouse, and he stated that some of them had been promoted. from the Laborers classification. While he stated that he believed white Elllployes
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge
-3-
May 1, 1945
in the Medical and Engineering Departments do the same work he does and rec e ive 90¢ per hour,, he was unable to state whether suoh employes also have additional duties or responsibilities attached to their position which rrB.y accoun.t for the higher rate which they receive. He stated that there is also employed in the warehouse in which he works a. white woman, Miss Crawford, who is paid on an annual basis and who checks the packages and marks ta.llies in a book af'ter the packing and weighing operations have been completed. This is apparently the employe to whom he is referring in the pen and ink memo in the statement that "There is a checker (white wanan) assisted by a colored man, Clif'ton Howard, Sr. Laborer ( ?) who checks ea.ch box, makes two tallies, keeping one and send other with box". It appears on the basis of Mr. Lowe' a statement that Miss Crawford is the employe responsible for the final checking of the packages in this warehouse.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE FOR EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICE MEMORANDUM TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge Regional Director Gilbert J. Balkin Fair Practice Examiner Atlanta A. S.F • Depot Case No • 7 -GR-533 This file from that
DATE:'5 /l/46
is with reference to the complaints appearing in the nubject relating to alleged discriminatory · deaotions of Negro employes the job classification "Squad Foreman laborers (Whse.)" to of "Senior Laborer."
As previously advised, I discussed this matter with Lt. Col. Henry Naab, Q1.4. Corps, Director of Personnel, and Mr. Spencer R. Gurvin, Administrative Assistant, at the time of my visit to the subject on April 18, 1945. Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin advised at that time that in May 1944, a classification survey of positions at the subject was made by the office of the QM. General, Washington, D. C., as a result of which many personnel actions were later ordered to be placed in effect by the War Dei;artment, Washington, D. C., includi:cg the demotions contained in the subject file.
-
Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin stated that the survey disclosed that maey employes were not performing duties of the classifications in which they were rated, as result of which demotions to other classifications took place. Col. Naab exhibited a file folder in which he stated was contained a large number of demotions which were ordered as a result of the survey. He indicated that the demotions related to all types of positions and affected both graded and ungraded classifications. He stated that he did not know the oolor or the race of the individuals involved in the particular actions. He and Mr. Gurvin stated that all of the employee in the Sq. Foreman of Laborers classification, Grade 4, were Negroes. Mr. Gurvin indicated that the job of Sq. Foreman of Laborers at Grade 4 was abolished as a. result of the above referred to survey and that a mm job of Labor Leader, Grade 4 (one who supervises fran 2 to 8 employes) was set up and that a job classification of Sq. Foreman of Laborers, Grade 5 was retained. The employes involved in this complaint had all been employed in the Grade 4 Sq. Foreman of Laborers~osition. Col. Naab a.nd Mr. Gurvin too~ the position that since all f the employes in the Sq. Foreman of laborers, Grade 4, were N groes to start with, that there could be no discrimination involved because of race or color as result of the personnel action taken, since there was only one group and not two groups involved. Relative to
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge
-2- .
May 1, 1945
the charge that the complainants, upon being demot ed to Senior I..a:bo~er received a wage increase, .Col. Naab and Mr. 'Gurvin stated that this 1'8.S a "By-Product" of the personnel action and not the purpose of such action. Col. Naab explained that established War Department policy provides that when an ·individual. is demoted, he does not in any event receive a 10.er wage rate 'than he was receiving in his former classification and that if there is no wage rate step in his new classification corresponding exactly to that received by him in the former classification, the employe then is paid the next higher step in the lower classification. This 118.8 the result in the case of the demotions with respect to the complainants; therefore, Col. Naab explained, these anployes actually re• ceived a wage increase upon being demoted to the lower classification. On April 30 1 1945• in response to my letters to him of April 19 and April 23, 1945, Mr. Roosevelt Lowe, 76 Pulton Stre~ s. E., Atlanta, Ga., one of the complainants involved in this action, called at this office. Mr. Lowe stated that he had been employed at the subject for 5 years and that at one time, 'While classified as a Sq. Foreman of Laborers, he did direct the worl!:: of other employes in the loa.ding and unlc:ading of box cars. He stated, however, that just before his demotion to the classification of Sr. I..a:borer, he did not have any employes under him. This was i n confirnation of his statement appearing in the pen and ink memorandum attached to the file which stated that "Mr. Lowe has never performed duties of a Sq. Foreman, i.e., nev er direoted work of others. 0 This stat ement of Mr. Lowe• s appears to corroborate the statement of Col. Naab and Mr. Gurvin that the delIX)tions involved i n these complaints were t h e result of a classification survey based on an analysis of t he duties actually being performed by the employes in the ol ssification and were not plaoe d in eff ect because of the employes ' r&oe or color. Mr. Lowe stated that he is still classified as a Sr. !;1.borer, being in the top step in this grade, and receiving a rate of 62t per hour. He stated that his duties are to weigh packages, mark the weight on them, and route pa.c kages. He stated that white wanen pa.eked the materials in boxes in the war~house in which he works and that he often catches mistakes in their piblcing and in weighing the packages. He also stated, however, that thmre are 4 colored packers in the warehouse in which he works, f/:207, and that there are but 2 white women pa ckers. He stated t hat the 4 polored packers are pa.id in the sams. grade as the white women packers. I queried him as to how the colored employes got to be packers in this warehouse, and he stated that some of them had been promoted. from the Laborers classification. While he stated that he believed white Elllployes
Dr. Witherspoon Dodge
-3-
May 1, 1945
in the Medical and Engineering Departments do the same work he does and rec e ive 90¢ per hour,, he was unable to state whether suoh employes also have additional duties or responsibilities attached to their position which rrB.y accoun.t for the higher rate which they receive. He stated that there is also employed in the warehouse in which he works a. white woman, Miss Crawford, who is paid on an annual basis and who checks the packages and marks ta.llies in a book af'ter the packing and weighing operations have been completed. This is apparently the employe to whom he is referring in the pen and ink memo in the statement that "There is a checker (white wanan) assisted by a colored man, Clif'ton Howard, Sr. Laborer ( ?) who checks ea.ch box, makes two tallies, keeping one and send other with box". It appears on the basis of Mr. Lowe' a statement that Miss Crawford is the employe responsible for the final checking of the packages in this warehouse.
