Discrimination of Color May Be First Complaint

Discrimination of Color May Be First Complaint

A newspaper article written by Patrick Nicholson for the Daily Mercury’s Ottawa Report in October 1953. Nicholson discusses the Fair Employment Practices Act, which prohibited discrimination on the basis of race (among other things) in jobs with federal unions. Nicholson described some hardships of sleeping car porters and their fight for better rights. He mentions the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters’ progress in improving wages and working conditions. From 1913 to 1953, wages increased from $32 to $237 a month, with much thanks to the BSCP’s advocating. With inflation, the 1913 wage would be about $865 CAD in 2025, and the 1953 wage would be $2,760 CAD in 2025.

Patrick Nicholson

Nicholson, Patrick. “Discrimination of Color May Be First Complaint.” The Daily Mercury (Ottawa, ON). October 19, 1953. https://museumoftoronto.com/collection/conditions-segregation/.

Museum of Toronto

October 19, 1953

Museum of Toronto

Newspaper article