U.S. Suit Says Carpenters Bar Negroes from 2 Locals

New York Times (November 25, 1970)

The Justice Department filed suit Wednesday against two carpenter union locals accused of excluding Negroes from membership and of going on strike when blacks were hired on construction projects.

The action was filed in United states District Court in East St. Louis, Ill. It was announced in Washington by Attorney General John N. Mitchell.

The Government accused Locals 169 and 480 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the Tri-counties Illinois Carpenters District Council of violation of civil rights laws.

The Government charged that the defendants "have pursued and continue to pursue a policy and practice of discriminating against Negroes on account of their race with respect to employment opportunities in the carpenter trade."