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Discrimination found
Wards, Midas ordered to pay
PORTLAND
OBSERVER
—
—
. J
Millner declares for School Board
D r. D arrell M illn e r, Associate
Professor in the P o rtlan d State
University Black Studies Center, has
announced his intention to apply for
the pending Portland School Board
vacancy and to run for election to the
position in April, 1979.
A graduate o f C alifo rn ia State
Polytechnic U n iversity, M illn e r
received his MS and doctorate from
the U niversity o f Oregon in
Curriculum Development and In ­
struction — Disadvantaged Youth.
Millner has taught in the fields of
History, Sociology, Black. Studies
and English at C a lifo rn ia State
Polytechnic U n iversity, the Los
Angeles County Human Relations
D epartm ent, the U niversity o f
Oregon, the University of Oregon
Teacher Corps before coming to
Portland State University. He also
served as Temporary Chairman of the
Black Studies program at California
State Polytechnic University; was
assistant director o f the Teacher
Corps — C orrections O ffice
Education at the U niversity o f
Oregon; was director of the Re-entry
Program of the University of Oregon
Teacher Corps (for youth returning
from correctional institutions); and
was a placement counselor for the
Berkeley Youth Manpower Program.
He also was Project Director of the
Northeast Youth Service Center in
Portland.
After joining the PSU faculty in
1974, Millner served as Chairman of
the Recruitm ent and Selection
Committee of the Black Studies Cen­
ter; was a member of the Social Ser­
vice Curriculum Review Committee;
served as faculty advisor to the Black
Cultural Affairs Board; was a mem­
ber of the Planning anu Organiza­
tion Committee and the Curriculum
Committee o f the PSU School o f
Urban Affairs.
M illn e r's scholarly works on
education. Black Studies, and
corrections have been published in
U JIM A , Black Perspective, Western
Journal o f Black Studies, the Port­
land Observer, and “ Blacks in
Oregon, an Historical and Statistical
Labor Commissioner Bill Steven­
son has ordered Montgomery Ward
and Midas M uffler Shops to make
financial restitution for discrimina­
tion.
Montgomery Ward, Inc. was or­
dered to hire James Williams, to pay
him $2,000 for “ humiliation, pain
and mental anguish” , and to com­
pensate him for the difference in pay
he now receives and what he would
have been paid if he had been hired
by the company. The penalties are
expected to exceed $20,000.
W illiam s had applied fo r a
position in the appliance department
of the Wards Jantzen Beach store.
After revealing a medical history of
heart ailment, Williams encountered
d ifficu lty in obtaining a medical
examination from W ard’s physician.
When he was examined doctor said
he was unable to perform the job.
Although W illia m s ’ own heart
specialist disagreed, the company
failed to get another opinion and
refused to hire him.
In 1976 the Labor Commissioner
ruled in favor of Williams, but the
defendants appealed to the Court of
Appeals which reversed the decision.
The state then appealed to the
Oregon Supreme C o u rt, which
remanded the case back to the Labor
Bureau. In the order dated August
1st, Stevenson found that M o n t­
gomery Ward had acted in bad faith
andthat there was substantial eviden­
ce
that
the
company
had
discrim inated against W illiam s
because of his physicial handicap.
Stevenson called this a landmark
case. “ It is a case of first impression
- the first of its kind to go through a
public hearing, the Court o f A p­
peals, and the Supreme Court. I am
confident to d a y ’ s order w ill be
upheld and will breath life into the
statutes governing the employment
of handicapped persons. ”
Stevenson also ruled that Durward
Gurusinghe, a native o f Ceylon, had
ben discriminated against by Midas
M u ffle r Shops because o f his
national origin and ordered that he
be payed $1,910.
Gurusinghe filed a com plaint
against Midas M uffler Shops in 1972
claiming that he was fired primarily
because o f his “ foreign accent” .
Gurusinghe had been hired and
promoted to an office sales position,
where he received a positive
evaluation by the manager. When a
representative from the national o f­
fice visited the local franchise and
secretely monitored Gurusinghe’s
phone sales technique, he judged his
accent as potentially “ offensive to
the American public” so Gurusinghe
was fired.
Gurusinghe, who came to the U.S.
in 1970, had spoken English since
kindergarten. His education included
two years o f law and journalism. His
language was described as “ gram­
matically precise . . . fluent . . .
clearly understandable.”
In announcing the ruling, Steven­
son said, “ This case m arks the
loosening o f the log jam o f cases --
especially old cases - that has been
clogging the enforcement apparatas
o f the Labor Bureau for several
years.” A large number o f old cases
are expected to be concluded in the
next few weeks.
Black Mayors support Andy Young
Dr. Darrell Millner has announced that he is a candidate for the pending vac­
ancy on the Portland Public Schools Board of Education.
tee.
R e p o rt.” H e had two books
published in 1977, by University
Currently M illner is a member of
Press o f A m erica, “ M in o rity - the Board o f Directors o f the M artin
Teachers As Change Agents: A Case
Luther King Scholarship Fund o f
Study,” and "Perspective On Black
Oregon; a member o f the Board of
Studies.”
Directors o f the National Council of
Millners’ community involvement
Black Studies; a Task Force member
began as soon as he arrived in
for the Oregon Black History Project
Oregon. He served as a member o f
(sponsored by Bethel A M E Church);
the Model Cities Education Commit­
and a member o f the M ayor’s Com­
tee from 1970 to 1974, helped
mittee on Social Impact o f Planning
develop an Alcohol and Drug Abuse
and Development.
Treatm ent proposal for Highland
The vacancy for which Dr. Millner
C o m m u n ity C enter, presented a
has applied will be created by the
series o f film presentations/lectures
resignation o f Gladys McCoy, who
for the Portland Youth Division and
has served on the Board for the past
Case Management Program. He was
eight years. The appointment will be
an organizer o f the Albina Voter
made by the School Board on Sep­
Registration and Education Commit-
tember 11th.
The National Conference of Black
Mayors has announced its concern
over President Cartaer’s reprimand
o f U .N . Ambassador Andrew
Young. In a statement released by
the Conferenece, the organization
states, “ It is clear to us that
President C a rte r’ s reprim and o f
Ambassador young was political,
hypercritical, and a conspicious con­
trast to the President’s public policy
o f speaking out on behalf o f the
cause o f human rights o f political
prisoners in other nations. M r. Car­
ter appears to have a bifurcated view
o f justice and the reality o f political
life in America for thousands upon
thousands o f Blacks, minorities, and
poor persons insvolved in the
struggle for dignity and human rights
in America. M r. Carter’s reprimand
o f Andrew Yong relfects both a
double standard and a disappoint­
ment to hundreds o f thousands of
Black voters and other individuals
who have taken highly political and
moral stands on issues as divergaent
as the Vietnam W ar, racism, prison
reform, political reform, abortion,
W atergate, civil rights and many
others.”
The National Conference of Black
Mayors considers the President’s
reprimand of Young to be "obvious
acquiescence to the public criticism
and censure o f M r. young by senior
members o f his administration.”
“ W e, like Ambassador Young,
believe that it cannot be gainsaid that
there are p o litical prisoners in
American jails, this past November,
the Noble Peace Prize awardee, A m ­
nesty International, based in Lon­
don, issued a list of some persons in
American jails whom it considered to
be political prisoners. Few — if any —
civil rights cases have stirred as much
controversy as the Wilmington Ten
case. Widely reported by the news
m edia, the case has prompted
congressional inquiries and petitions
to the Governor of North Carolina;
also, follo w in g an investigation
earlier this year, the United States
Justice Department recommended
that consideration should be given to
the pardoning o f the defendants. The
M ark Hampton murder in Chicago,
the Black Panther trials, the Chicago
Seven case and the contempt trial of
some o f the lawyers involved, the
FBIs illegal efforts to discredit the
civil rights movement, and the F B I’s
C O IN T E L PRO operation and the
legendary Angela Davis case are but
some fo the most recent examples of
political repressiona and political
prisoners produced by the American
crim inal justice system. These
examples do not include the
thousands o f Blacks and whites sent
to jail for essentially political activity
in support o f unpopular causes.
M o re im p o rta n tly , a ll o f these
illustrations do not even begin to ad­
dress the many Americans consigned
to eternity by summary execution by
American law enforcement officials
without the benefit o f judge, jury oi
appellate process. The H ouston,
Texas killing o f Mexican-Americans
suffices to bring the whole string of
such actions to one’s minda nd per­
mits one to soberly reflect on this
ultimate imprisonment.”
Turner sentenced
Fred Turner, 45, was found guilty
of manslaughter and sentenced to ten
years at Oregon State Penitentiary.
Following a fam ily arguement,
Turner had shot his wife Cynthia in
the back o f the head, killing her in­
stantly.
Turner was employed by a local
meat packing company.
Africa Blacks reject Sullivan Principles
by N. Fungai Kumbula
Around the country lately, there
has been a lot of debate on the role
o f multi-national corporations in
South Africa, accompanied by some
very loud calls for divestiture of all
stock holdings in American com­
panies in that country. Most
Africans contend that only by totally
ostracising South Africa cutting o ff
all economic ties, would the apar­
theid regime be compelled to aban­
don its racist policies. There has been
worldwide condemnation o f apar­
theid but nothing concrete has been
done and the Africans maintain that
as long as Western companies con­
tinue to invest in South Africa, any
censures they pronounce are null and
void.
A few weeks ago, I testified at the
Oregon Investment Council hearings
which were held to decide what to do
about the Oregon State Board of
Higher Education stocks in com­
panies doing business in South
A fric a . The O S B H E had earlier
voted to divest but then the Attorney
General had ruled that they did not
have the legal authority to do that.
Along with several other people, I
urged the O IC to divest all such
stocks forthwith. The O IC , which
had been charged with the task of
deciding what to do with the OSBHE
investments, decided not to divest
but that they would support the so-
called Sullivan Principles, the same
lame excuse that the corporate
executives use every time they are
called upon to divest.
A lot o f us, Africans, feel that
these Principles, named for Leon
Sullivan, a Baptist minister who
proposed them, are woefully
inadequate. Essentially, they are af­
firmative action guidelines whereby
U .S. companies in South A frica
pledge to adhere to the same hiring,
training and promoting practices
that they would have to observe if
they were operating in this country.
They would pledge to speed up the
advancement o f Blacks, desegregate
all facilities, give equal pay for equal
or comparable work and so forth.
Because o f iu racist policies, the
South African government discour­
ages all Black advancement, prac­
tices jo b discrim ination and jo b
reservation (which means that Blacks
cannot be hired into executive and
management positions), segregates
all facilities, has a wage differential
based on color (in some areas,
whites’ salaries are as much as 27
times those of Blacks’) and does not
recognize Black labor unions. Blacks
are, o f course, in the final analysis,
regarded as nothing more than a vast
pool of labor to be exploited for the
benefit o f the whites.
So, on the surface, it would appear
that the Sullivan Principles are the
godsend that South A frica’s 18m.
Blacks have been praying for. Are
they dancing in the streets
celebrating this great “ victory” ? The
answer is an emphatic NO. The vast
m ajo rity o f the Blacks have de­
nounced the Principles because, first
Analysis
and foremost, they are unforceable
given the strictures o f apartheid.
And, secondly, their success depends
on the goodwill o f the same cor­
porate managers whose main
m otivation
has always
been
PR O FIT.
The companies are in South Africa
for one purpose and one purpose
only, and that is to make money.
And since when has business been
too crazy about affirmative action?
In this country, it is one thing
because the government and the
courts make sure that companies do
adhere to fair employment practices.
In South Africa, the reverse is true.
The government is out to exploit the
people as much as possible —
business never had it so good.
The call for an economic boycott
o f South Africa recognizes that apar­
theid is also an economic system. It
has survived this long because of the
money poured in by foreign in ­
vestors. I f the $2 billion in U.S. in­
vestments were to be withdrawn, that
would make a sizeable dent in the
economy. This would mean any of
several things. It could mean that the
government would not have the
money to carry out such useless tasks
as enforcing pass laws, training and
maintaining armies and police forces
for the sole purpose o f keeping 874k
o f its own people disenfranchised
and thus keeping the privileged
white minority in power and pur­
suing its diabolical Bantustan policy.
I f the corporations withdraw, the
government would have to tax the
whites a lot more severely in order to
maintain economic growth. Enforce­
ment o f the 300 odd apartheid
edicts costs the government millions
of dollars each year and I cannot see
the voters continuing to support such
a useless and unnecessary system.
Another strong argument for cor­
porate w ithdraw al contends that
apartheid is as much an economic
system as it is a political one and that
when the crunch comes, the business
sector would sooner opt for changes
and concessions to the Black demands
if that would help salvage some of
their possessions
G ran ted , the Principles would
bring about some improvements, but
how many people would benefit?
And how many would they
simultaneously condemn to a life of
perpetual servitude? The statement
has been signed by 55 companies
(Please turn to Page 4 Column 1)
A symbolic "die-in” commemorated the 33rd anniver­
sary of the dropping of the atomic bomb on Nagasaki. The
demonstration was a dramatization of the dangers of
nuclear catastrophe occuring from the growing reliance on
nuclear power plants and a protest against the arms build­
up.
The demonstration was one event in the weeks series of
anti-nuclear activities which included a four day non­
violent "occupation" of the Trojap nuclear plant by mem­
bers of the Trojan Decommissioning Alliance. Responding
to what it considers the failure of government to react to
the dangers of nuclear plant operation, the Trojan Decom­
missioning Alliance has set as its goal the closing of the
PGE plant.
Similar anti-nuclear demonstrations have taken place
throughout the nation and the world this week.
O for a thousand tongues to tell
The dangers that we face!
Toward nuclear war, oblivion,
The foolish nations race.
We do not raise our youth to die
On some far distant shore.
Nor do we want mass suicide
Brought on by nuclear war.
With taxes used for bombs and guns
Inflation grows each day.
Munitions make the millionaires
While taxes melt away.
The only hope for this old world,
Disarmament for alll
Then peace will end the frantic race
Ere tragedy befall.
When half our taxes go for war
W e’re facing bankruptcy.
From hunger here and everywhere
All people must be free.
Howard Willits
Sung to the tune of — O For A
Thousand Tongues to Sing.