Jurisdictional disputes in the motion-picture Industry : hearings before a special subcommittee of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Eightieth Congress, first-session, pursuant to H. Res. 111 (1948)

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MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 3 Mr. Kahane. There are approximately 10 major producing companies in Hollywood. Their problems are pretty much the same when it comes to dealing with the 40 different guilds and unions that we deal with. We accordingly met and discussed our common problems. Mr. McCann. Whom do you mean by "we" ? Mr. Kaiiane. Representatives — executives usually — representatives of the various motion-picture producers — Metro-Goldwyn Mayer, Loew's, Warner Bros., Universal, RKO, Republic Pictures, Twentieth Century-Fox. Mr. McCann. When this first problem developed in 1945, let us say — the jurisdictional strike — tell us briefly what was done by this committee at that time. Were there representatives of all of those 10 majors who got together and they designated you as the chairman of their group for negotiation purposes? State just what the facts are. Mr. Kahane. If you mean when the trouble commenced — you mean the set decorators trouble in early 1945 ? Mr. McCann. Yes. Mr. Chairman, I move that the doors be closed to any further admissions. I think the room is becoming entirely too crowded for the conduct of the hearing. iNlr. Kearns. Well, after the conclusion of each witness' testimony we can reopen the doors. Some may want to leave, Mr. Counsel, and come back again, and some of the press may still be on their way. Mr. McCann. I would like to make an exception in the case of the photographers coming in and out and all the newsmen, but otherwise I think we should exclude any further representatives of the public. Do you recall the question that was asked, Mr. Kahane? Mr. Kahane. Yes ; I do. Mr. McCann. All right, proceed. Mr. Kahane. I think it was just as informal as this, that they said, ''We are going to meet with the actors today," or "We are going to meet with the lATSE group, and we want to have somebody to act as spokesman, and will you do it" and I said I would, and that was that. Mr. McCann. How many years have you been acting as spokesman for the employers' group, do you remember? Mr. Kahane. I would say from about January 1945 until January 1947. Mr. McCann. You have a prepared statement, I believe, do you not, Mr. Kahane? Mr. Kahane. Yes, sir.? Mr. McCann. Will you proceed ? Do you want to read that statement or do you want to make an oral statement? Mr. Kahane. I think it would be better if I read it. It is quite long. Mr. McCann. Do you object to being interrupted in case we have any questions to ask while you are reading it? Mr. Kahane. I do not. Mr. McCann. Proceed. Mr. Kahane. Labor strife in Hollywood stems from jurisdictional conflicts between rival unions of the American Federation of Labor. This has been true almost from the inception of the industry. It is true today.