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208 HARVARD BUSINESS REPORTS
At the time of its announcement, Equity had not communicated with any of the trade unions with interests in the theatrical industry, asking for sympathetic resolutions or assistance. Current agreements between the Studio Technical Craft Unions and the Association of Motion Picture Producers had three years to run and could not be broken except by orders from the Council of the American Federation of Labor. It was reported, however, that a provision in the agreements provided for abrogation on brief notice by either party. Labor organizations represented in talking pictures were : International Photographers ; International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (electricians and "sound engineers") ; International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators of the United States and Canada; International Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America; United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America; and American Federation of Musicians.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators of the United States and Canada had been struggling hard to effect a complete unionization and reported more progress for 1929 than in any previous year. That organization and the American Federation of Musicians had an interlocking agreement covering strikes. No similar agreement had ever been obtained by Equity. Other unions, however, including those of carpenters, musicians, and stage hands, had voluntarily given support to the actors in 1919 and generally were credited with having been the decisive factor in Equity's victory at that time. Equity claimed that its relations with all unions were as friendly as they were in 1919, but that as yet it was not calling on these organizations for help.
Equity regarded as significant the current weekly communication of the American Federation of Labor, in which appeared a strong endorsement of the association's stand in the sound and talking picture situation. All of the above mentioned organizations were affiliated with the American Federation of Labor. A general strike of all unions would close nearly every theater in the country.
The Association of Motion Picture Producers^ for several reasons, was not in sympathy with the cause of Equity. It was reported5 that the president, Mr. Cecil De Mille, had said that
5 Film Daily , June 7, 1929.