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)

264 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. DoHERTY. The exact date is somewhere between October 15 and October 24, 1945, at which time the executive council of the American Federation of Labor appointed a committee of three vice presidents to do certain specific functions here in Hollywood in connection with the Hollywood jurisdictional dispute. The committee was appointed in keepino with an agreement which had been reached in the city of Cincinnati, Ohio, at that executive council meeting, and we proceeded to Hollvwood shortly thereafter. I should like, if I may, Mr. Chairman, to give a complete narration of the history of this case insofar as the committee is concerned, setting forth the dates relative to our appointment, the dates relative to our work, and eventually move into the phase of clarification and hiterpretation, if that meets with the pleasure of counsel and the chairman of this committee. Mr. Kearns. I see no objection. Mr. McCann. I should be delighted to have that, but first of all I should like to have you read your authorization from the executive committee and state what is says, so we will have it in the record, Mr. DoHERTY. Well, Mr. Chairman, before we do that, I request that we be permitted to make an official statement in behalf of the committee which bears on our activity, and I think, Mr. Chairman, it is very important — in fact, imperative — that we make this statement at this time. Mr. McCann. I have asked a very simple question. These men appear before us as witnesses before a congressional committee because of a position which they held as a committee — no matter what you want to call them — of the American Federation of Labor. Now I am certainly not trying to be arbitrary or unreasonable in asking that first of all before you give us your narrative — and we will let you talk at length when you do so — we should like to have the original document, showing the language of authority that was given you to undertake this work, and I insist upon that. Mr. DoHERTY. Mr, Chairman, we are here to give you full and complete cooperation to the subcommittee of the House Committee on Education and Labor. The authority for coming here is contained in the agreement which was reached at the executive council meeting of the American Federation of Labor at Cincinnati, Ohio, during October 1945. That agreement reads as follows : 1. The council directs that the Hollywood strike be terminated immediately. 2. That all employees return to work immediately. 3. That for a period of 30 days the international unions affected make every attempt to settle the jurisdictional questions involved in the dispute. 4. That after the expiration of 30 days, a committee of three members of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor investigate and determine within 30 days all jurisdictional questions still involved. 5. That all parties concerned — the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators of the United States and Canada, the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, the International Association of Machinists, the United Association of Plumbers and Steamfitters of the United States and Canada, the International Brotherhood of Paper Hangers and Decorators of America, the International Brotherhood of Mechanical Workers of America, and the Building Service Employees International Union — accept as final and binding such decisions and determinations as the executive council committee of three may finally render. Mr. Chairman, I submit that the words contained in that agreement are the authority for the committee to have come here to Hollywood