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I think there's no question that any cutback in construction jobs would affect minority workers, as it with all other workers. However, we have to keep in mind that the construction industry in the United States, the multi billion dollar industry, and we are not receiving our fair

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share. Mr carter. What would you say to the white construction worker who is reluctant to allow minority inroads into the construction field because of fear of his own job security? Well, I would hope that he would understand that all persons have a right to expect an

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opportunity to work. Black workers are not concerned nor interested in taking white workers jobs away from them. We are interested in getting jobs in those particular fields. A number of building trade unions have initiated affirmative action programs within the last year, the number of black workers

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employed as plumbers and asbestos workers, iron and pipe fitters, sheet metal workers, electrical workers, and operating engineers and others are still pitifully small. The basic problems confronting the black community is economic, and the most pressing need is jobs, better housing, reduced, welfare, improved education can all

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be achieved if the economic base is strengthened. We are asking the United States Department of Labor to investigate and hold hearings on the exclusion of minority workers from certain skilled trades in the cities listed above, and to enforce a plan comparable to the philadelphia plan, to

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bring the employment practices of construction contractors into compliance with the law