Court Tells Union it Cannot Discriminate Because of Race

    4 
} B } =f od NAACP LEGAL DEFENSE AND EDUCATIONAL FUND, INC. ue F LS} BS a & 12 Geary St.; San Francisco, Calif. 94108 - (415) 783-8736 egal E.acisefense ..3und (National Office: 10 Columbus Circle, N. Y., N.Y. 10019 « §36-8397) 

PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ee LEAS 

Tuesday, November 19, 1974 

Contact: Ezra Hendon 
452-1300 

COURT TELLS UNION IT CANNOT DISCRIMINATE BECAUSE OF RACE 

The United States District Court for the Northern 

District of California has found that thé Bartenders International 

Union, Local No. 52's failure to admit black bartenders to membership 

in the union and failure to refer black bartenders to jobs is the 

result of discrimination because of race. Such discrimination has 

existed over a period of more than 25 years. Local #52's jurisdic- 

tion covers a large part of Alameda County including the cities of 

Oakland and Berkeley. 

The plaintiffs in the case are three black bartenders, 

all fully qualified for employment. The plaintiffs, represented by 

Ezra Hendon asserted that the discriminatory policies and practices 

by the union included refusal to adr t blacks to membership in the 

union; failure to organize black establishments which employ barten- 

ders; failure to refer black bartenders to jobs; and, failure to 

take affirmative action to correct the effects of the discriminatory 

practices. Hendon showed and the Court ruled that the union had 

practiced discrimination against blacks since 1945 when one of the 

plaintiffs first applied for membership. 

Contributions are deductible for U. S. income tax purposes 



The Court found that the union had violated the Civil 

Rights Act of 1964 and the Civil Rights Act of 1866. Further, the 

Court found that the plaintiffs are entitled to affirmative relief 

requiring the union to refer the plaintiffs to the next available 

full-time jobs as bartenders and that the plaintiffs are entitled to 

an award of back pay for the losses they have suffered as a result 

of the union's unlawful employment practices. Awards will be made 

totalling $28,344.70 to the three plaintiffs. 

The case filed in May of last year was supported by 

the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc.* 

ate 

* Please bear in mind that even though we were originally established 
by the NAACP and those initials are retained in our name, the LDF is 
a completely separate and distinct organization with no present 
connection whatever with the NAACP. Our correct designation is the 
NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc., frequently shortened 
to LDF. We provide legal representation in significant civil rights 
suits across the country. The San Francisco office was opened in 
1968. 

EIGHTH FLOOR, 12 GEARY STREET, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA 94108 

TELEPHONE (415) 788-8736