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)

MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 1 1 9 theatrical stage employees as to who should be the bargaining agents. As local 1421 is an affiliate of the Brotherhood of Painters, and as the members thereof are engaged in interior decorating, there can be no question but what the Brotherhood of Painters is the bargaining agent for membei-s of this local union. Am holding telegram in abeyance awaiting Sorrell's reply. L. P. LiNDELOF, President, Brotherhood of Painters. [Western Union night letter] October 5, 1944. L. P. LiNDELOF, General President, Painters International, La Fayette, Ind.: Under date of September 1. 1942, and May 3, 1942. contracts were entered into respectively between locals Nos. 644 and 1421 of the International Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators and Paperhangers of America and certain motion-picture producers, including Loew's, Inc., for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio. Your local No. 1421 has heretofore demanded that the studios negotiate through it for the terms and conditions of employment of interior decorators in the motionpicture industry. On the other hand, the International Association of Theatrical Stage Employees, which, like your union, is an affiliate of the American Federation of Labor, has notified the studios that it, and not local No. 1421, is the proper bargaining agent for such employees. In view of the conflict between these several American Federation of Labor unions, the studios notified local No. 1421 that they would negotiate with it on condition that it be certified by the National Labor Relations Board as a proper bargaining agent for the.se employees. Local No. 1421 had heretofore filed its petition before the National Labor Relations Board, asking that it be designated as the bargaining agent for these employees. The lATSE intervened in that proceeding and asked that it be designated. Subsequently, local No. 1421 withdrew its request for such certification and thei'e is now no designation or proceeding for designation of such proper bargaining agency. At noon today, Herbert Sorrell, business representative of local No. 644, instructed the painters, machinists, scenic artists, and interior decorators employed at the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio to inform that studio that they were "taking a vacation" and these employees left their employment before the end of their daily shift. The undersigned are signatories to contracts similar to that entered into by Loew's, Inc., with your locals. We are informed that like work stoppages and strikes are about to be inaugurated against the other motion-picture studios in Hollywood. You are, of course, aware of the "no strike" pledge of your organization, as well as the pledge against lock-outs made by the employees and employers on December 17, 1941, to the President of the United States. You are aware, too, that these studios are each actively engaged in furthering the war effort, both by the making of training films as well as by furnishing films for the maintenance of the morale of our armed forces throughout the world. In the jurisdictional dispute created by the conflicting claims of the.se several American Federation of Labor unions, the undersigned have no remedy except an appeal to the fairness and patriotism of your organization. We assume that the action of the local union has been taken without your knowledge or sanction and ask that you confirm this fact to us. We also request that you instruct the unions involved to terminate the strike in which they are now engaged and that in the event they fail to do so you take steps to furnish us with members of other unions under your jurisdiction to carry on studio work. In order that this jurisdictional quarrel shall not create widespread unemployment and hardship and halt the production of motion pictures, we urge your immediate response and action. Kindly address your reply to Pat Casey, chairman. Motion Picture Producers Committee, 5504 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, Calif. Columbia Pictures Corp.; Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., Ltd.; Loew's, Inc.; Paramount Pictures, Inc. ; RKO-Radio Pictures, Inc. ; Republic Pictures Corp. ; 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. ; Universal Pictures Co., Inc. ; Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc.