Jewish Occupational Council Starts Intensified Drive Against Employment Discrimination

Plans for intensified efforts by Jewish groups to combat employment discrimination in war industries were announced here today by the Jewish Occupational Council following a meeting of its Coordinating Committee of Jewish Organizations Dealing with Employment Discrimination in War Industries.

The Coordinating Committee soon will send out a questionnaire to Jewish organizations in an effort to ascertain which of these agencies are engaged in anti-discrimination activities and to gather information concerning the size and scope of their programs. This information will serve as a basis for more effective and better coordinated action.

Meanwhile a statement is in preparation, which will set forth the procedures to be followed by any local Jewish group having a complaint of discrimination in employment against any employer holding war contracts. This statement likewise will include suggestions regarding the investigation and preparation of complaints, the reporting of such complaints to appropriate governmental agencies, and other matters relating to cooperation in the government’s program to eliminate discriminatory religious and racial employment practices in war industries.

Forty national and local Jewish organizations already are cooperating with the Jewish Occupational Council in the clearance of information and complaints. Among the national Jewish agencies cooperating in the Council’s program for coordination of Jewish efforts to combat employment discrimination in war industries are the American Jewish Committee, the American Jewish Congress, the Anti-Defamation League of the B’nai B’rith, the Jewish Labor Committee, the Jewish Welfare Board, the National Council of Jewish Women, and the National Refugee Service.