We use Optical Character Recognition (OCR) during our scanning and processing workflow to make the content of each page searchable. You can view the automatically generated text below as well as copy and paste individual pieces of text to quote in your own work.
Text recognition is never 100% accurate. Many parts of the scanned page may not be reflected in the OCR text output, including: images, page layout, certain fonts or handwriting.
8 • MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIOXAL DISPUTES
Mr. Kaiiaxe. I would not be able to give you the date, Mr. McCann, but I am sure
Mr. McCann. Is there anyone in your organization who can state the time at which a charter was granted by the lATSE to local 44?
Mr. Kahaxe. I imagine that information could be obtained for you, sir.
Mr. McCann. Mr. Luddy says that it was in 1939.
Mr. Kahane. Yes, sir.
Mr. IVIcCann. You may proceed, sir.
Mr. Kahane. Local 1421 of the painters' union, a member of the CSU, also claimed jurisdiction over these employees.
On the face of things, a jurisdictional dispute over set dressers or set decorators would seem to be insignificant because there were only approximately 77 of them employed in the entire industry. This dispute, however, was only a small part of a jurisdictional contest which had long been brewing between the lATSE and the unions which were members of the CSU, the solution of which, as the executive-council committee of the A. F. of L. later stated, j)resentecl "a most difficult and complex problem."
The set-dresser or decorator controversy provided the incident which provoked open warfare. Peace could not be secured without a settlement of the other controversies which would otherwise themselves provide future incidents.
Prior to the calling of the strike on IMarch 12, 1945, by local 1421 of the painters' union, both the painters' local 1421 and the lATSE local 44 had made demands that the producers negotiate with them with regard to set dressers. Each claimed to be the bargaining representative of these employees.
The producers refused to determine at their peril the conflicting clainis of these rival unions as to the unit in which set dressers should be included for purposes of collective bargaining and, when on October 4, 1944, the producers again refused to recognize painters' local 1421 as collective-bargaining agent for set dressers, painters' local 1421 caused set dressers to strike progressively at the various major studios.
Mr. McCann. Just one moment, sir. At that point may I ask whether there had been an election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board with respect to the wishes of the 77 men involved as set dressers ?
Mr. Kahane. Not at that time ; no, sir.
Mr. MoCann. Did the company make any effort to secure an adjudication by the National Labor Relations Board on that problem?
Mr. Kahane. Well, at that time — just before this strike that I referred to — a petition had been filed by the set decorators and CSU, and when the lATSE intervened in that proceeding the set decorators and set dressers withdrew their petition, leaving the matter hanging.
Mr. McCann. There are too many initials. I don't get them clear in my own mind. As I understand it, there is the painters' union involved, local 44, lATS'E.
Mr. Kahane. Yes.
Mr. McCann. Which of those organizations asked for an adjudication by the National Labor Relations Board?
Mr. Kahane. I will state it so it will be clear. The local belonging to the painters' organization — the CSU organization — filed the peti