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 JUEISDICTIOXAL DISPUTES 391 Mr. McCann. Will you tell us what occasioned your visit to Los Angeles and what you had to do with the Hollywood labor dispute? Mr. Flanagan. Well, I received a letter from President William Green, dated, I believe, on July 11, 1946, requesting that I come down to Hollywood to make an investigation of conditions prevailing at that time, as a result of the original directive handed down b}^ the three-man committee of the American Federation of Labor. Mr. McCann. Do you have that letter with you ? Mr. Flanagan. From whom? Mr. McCann. From Mr. Green. Mr. Fl.\nagan. Yes, I do. Mr. McCann. I wish you would pass it to the secretary, and I would like, Mr. Chairman, for it to be made an exhibit. We won't bother about reading into the record at this time. Mr. Kearns. I think it is worth while to read it into the record. Mr. McCann. All right. [Keading] : American Federation of Labor, Washington 1, D. C, July 11, 1946. Mr. Daniel V. Flanagan, Organizer, American Federation of Labor, too Golden Gate Building, San Francisco 2, Calif. Dear Sir and Brother : The executive council of the American Federation of Labor directed me to conduct an investigation of the jurisdictional situation which exists in the Hollywood studios. This action of the council was based upon a strong complaint filed by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America against the decision rendered by the committee of the executive council in the jurisdictional dispute which arose between the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, and which resulted in a strike of a number of studio unions the early part of 1945. You will recall that the committee of the executive council which was designated to investigate the jurisdictional differences which had arisen at Hollywood rendered a decision in the jurisdictional dispute which had arisen between a number of American Federation of Labor unions at Hollywood. The decision rendered by the committee of the executive council was accepted by a number of the unions involved, but was protested very strongly by the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. In order to carry out the instructions of the executive council, I am calling upon you to go to Hollywood, make an investigation of the existing situation in the studios, and I suggest that you proceed in said investigation as follows : First. Ascertain the names of the American Federation of Labor unions which were involved in the jurisdictional controversy at Hollywood which resulted in a strike as herein referred to, which have accepted and applied the decision rendered by the committee of executive council members who were clothed with authority to make an investigation and render a decision binding upon all parties interested. Second. Please give .special consideration to the objection of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners to the decision rendered by the members of the committee to which I have referred. Third. Find out if the management of the studios has attempted to apply the decision rendered by the committee of the executive council in the jurisdictional controversy which arose between the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and the lATSE in accordance with the decision rendered, or if it is being applied in a way which is contrary and in opposition to the spirit and letter of said decision. Fourth. Go into the situation in a general way, investigate it thoroughly and submit such facts and information as you may secure regarding the practicability and the application of the decision rendered by the committee of the executive council In the jurisdictional disputes referred to. Find out and advise me if the objections of the local carpenters' union to the decision of the executive council committee still exist, if they still protest the decision, if it has been transgressed,