Report Finds ‘substantial’ Amount of Anti-jewish Job Bias in Washington

There is “a substantial amount of discrimination” against the employment of Jews in certain executive and white-collar positions in private firms in the nation’s capital, according to charges made here today by Myer Freyman, chairman of the employment discrimination committee of the Jewish Community of Greater Washington. He made his charges in a report to the District of Columbia Advisory Committee of the United States Civil Service Commission.

In general, he stated, employment opportunities for Jews here have “improved considerably” in the last 25 years. However, his report found anti-Jewish job bias still existing “substantially” in the executive level in insurance; on the executive level and in teller jobs in banks; in secretarial, bookkeeping and other clerical positions in banks, real estate firms “and in much of private employment generally.”

The local situation, he declared, “reflects to a large extent patterns of discrimination against Jews in other communities throughout the nation.” In the Greater Washington area, he said, Jews are not “completely excluded from all executive posts” in banks, insurance companies or real estate firms. “The beginnings of progress,” he reported, “have been made here. However, the employment of Jews in these posts is still very much the exception, representing no more than token employment.” He charged that Jews who apply for such posts often meet with a cold reception and without encouragement, no matter how excellent their skills, training and experience.

EMPLOYMENT AGENCIES TAKE DISCRIMINATION FOR GRANTED; CORRECTIONS URGED

Citing specific examples of complaints by job applicants who were refused jobs because they were Jews, the report referred to a survey conducted by the JCC employment discrimination committee of 25 private employment agencies. Of these, 21 were ready to accept discriminatory job orders in a routine manner without any questions or reservations, the report charged.

Noting that “Government has a unique and inescapable responsibility” to correct the situation disclosed in the report, Mr. Freyman urged the U. S. Civil Service Commission to recommend that:

1. Fair employment ordinances or laws be enacted for the District of Columbia, and for the States, or at least the counties, which are contiguous to the District.

2. Legislation or regulations be enacted to prohibit private employment agencies from accepting or filling discriminatory job orders.