Armory Union Leader Denies Discrimination

Says Negroes Enjoy Best Working Conditions in City There

Flat denial of charges of alleged racial discrimination at Springfield Armory was made today by members of Lodge 431, American Federation of Government Employees. Commenting on the accusation of Rev. M. N. Ward that his wife had been “mistreated without provocation, cause or reason,” officials of the labor union at the Armory were quick to announce that they had always been aware of handling of all cases without any discrimination and failed to understand how such a charge had come about. A statement from Jerome F. Dunn, secretary, expressed surprise at the charges and declares that Negroes had always been treated in the same manner as other employees.

Never Approached

The Union statement follows:

“In our capacity as the only nationally affiliated labor group at the Springfield Armory we have had to consider most of employee grievances for the past several years. We are glad to report that at no time in our records have we ever been approached with a case of even supposed discrimination because of color.

The case of Mrs. Ward was never brought to our attention by Mrs. Ward or anyone else. Our first knowledge of any such charge came from the newspaper story, and we have not had occasion to investigate this particular complaint, but based on past history we do not believe that color entered into any change made.

Negroes of Springfield have been aware for years that they could attain better positions at Springfield Armory than they could anywhere else in this area. Before the labor shortage, Springfield Armory was almost the only industrial plant employing large numbers of Negro people and they have always been welcomed into our AFGE organization and have received the same protection and services as any of our other members. In fact as recently as last Saturday a conference was held with Col. Woody by officers of this lodge in regard to the transfers and changes which will be necessary in the reorganization of production schedules necessitating the transfer of many of our members and other employees due to the receipt of new ordnance materiel for manufacture. At the conference with the Commanding Officer we asked for the adoption of the same policy for the transferring of employees from one division to another as is followed in reduction of force by layoff, furlough, or discharge as recommended by civil service regulations.

This procedure would require any changes or transfer of employees to be made according to employee standing on the efficiency lists and not left to any haphazard selection by supervisors in the several departments: While no definite regulation covers the transfer of the employees within an establishment, this lodge is of the belief that Col. Woody was favorably inclined to our request and we expect a definite decision will be made by him in the near future.”

Col Woody, commanding officer at the Armory, was quick to deny the charge of discrimination because of color, last night, when he said that the 700 Negro employees there have received the same treatment as any other employee.

In his statement, Col. Woody said:

“We have approximately 700 Negroes in our employ and they receive the same treatment as any others, being given the same opportunities for advancement as rapidly as their skills and experience admit. We have one Negro foreman in the Hill shops whose advice and opinion are respected and sought after by others besides myself.

There are tool grinders and other skilled operators among our Negro employees. No color line has ever been drawn in our cafeterias, rest rooms, or other departments of the Armory and Negroes are welcomed along with whites in all our recreational activities. No barrier was ever raised against the Negro at the Armory. We have employed them for a great many years and found among them many faithful and industrious workers.”