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 459 ■controversy should live up to the commitments which they made when the Cincinnati agreement was culminated, and endeavor to make the directive effective. Fraternally yours, Roy M. Brewer, International Representative. July 29, 1946. Mr. Martin P. Duekin, General President, Washington 1, D. C. Dear Brother Durkin : In reply to your telegram of July 18, I am submitting the following brief to give you a picture of the situation that exists in the motionpicture industry. Findings of the executive council committee of the American Federation of Iiabor on the controversy have been turned over to a committee composed of shop stewards of the various studios in an attempt to arrive at an agreement with the lATSE which would be the basis of our new agreement with the producers. The stewards committee feels that they should have a clearer understanding of the executive council's finding to negotiate an agreement for the best interests of the UA. What the UA shall do : Section I : No conflict. Section II : "Paragraph (a). The UA shall handle, set, and hook up all piping or substitute conveyance, on or in connection with the sets when such fixtures are practical — that is, when a shower is used in a picture and water flows from same. This also applies to sinks, tubs, and commonly known plumbing equipment. "Paragraph (art). The preceding paragraph (a) shall not apply when plumbing fixtures are of a dummy nature and are used solely for set dressing or when a fixture is to be gagged or used as a special effect." We interpret this to mean that the building of a gag or special effect belongs to the lATSE, but certainly the piping to or from the gag or effect is UA work. The question also arises as to whether UA installs water and drains in such equipment as fish ponds, pools, and fountains. Installation of gas logs and burners in fireplaces is also contested by the lATSE. "Paragraph ( & ) . Install all runs of piping up to the sets to take care of the supply of water, steam, draining, air, oil, gas refrigerant, vacuum, or other utility." This paragraph is the subject of considerable dissension. The lATSE claims this only means inside of the stage wall though there may be more than one set on the stage. There is considerable piping involved in this, and we claim it means to the set as it says. The lATSE runs all lines from bottled gas and similar equipment. They also claim the operation, maintaining, repairing, and storing of boilers, water heaters, compi'essors, hydraulic equipment, tanks, etc., that are used to furnish utilities to the set. We claim that they have jurisdiction over the gag or effect itself only and that such equipment is not part of a gag or special effect and that it is being used to furnish a utility. "Paragraph (c). Fill and drain all large tanks and pools and install all heating and filtering apparatus and equipment in connection therewith." We contend that the word "large" should not be in this paragraph. The word ■"large" in this paragraph should be eliminated as it is very confusing. The lATSB claim .some of this referring to paragraph (aa) calling it an effect. When tanks or pools are of such great nature that they require pumping to be drained, the operation of the pumps is claimed by several crafts. The filling and draining of said tanks and pools involves a sanitary problem on account of cross connections in filling and is generally drained into the sewei*. "Paragraph (d). Install all piping in connection with ice skating rinks and all plumbing equipment in connection with such." Here, the lATSE brings up paragraph (aa) and there is room for contention. "Paragraph (e) : No dissension. "Paragraph (f): No dissension. "Paragraph (g). Install all piping and equipment for air-conditioning work for the purpose of heating or cooling the stages." Trouble here mostly with the management refusing to cooperate, and not the lATSE.