Agreement Reached to Hire More Blacks at Gardena Building Site

After nearly a month of protest and negotiations--including mediation by the U.S. Justice Department--the African-American Honor Committee announced Wednesday that it has reached a model agreement with the general contractor at a Gardena shopping center site to employ more black construction workers.

Danny Bakewell, president of the Brotherhood Crusade, said the agreement could produce 25 to 30 new jobs for black workers, who barely had been represented at the work site before.

“This is a real landmark agreement,” Bakewell said. “We stand by our motto: If black people don’t work, nobody will work in this community.”

George Inouye, the general contractor, said he was “very comfortable” with the agreement, which will increase the diversity of his work force without increasing costs.

William Whitcomb, the U.S. Justice Department official who brought the parties together to negotiate the issue, described the agreement as “a document of good faith.” It has no legal authority, but symbolizes the willingness of the activists and the contractor to work together, he said.

The document states that African-American workers, subcontractors and contractors will be given the “maximum opportunity” to participate in the construction project. Inouye agreed with Bakewell’s estimate that up to 30 black workers are likely to get jobs as additional contracts are let.

Bakewell said it was imperative that business owners recognize a moral responsibility to hire more black workers. He promised more demonstrations against employers who do not.