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 467 Mr. McCann. Mr. Chairman, I think those should be reproduced in the record and not received as exhibits. IMr. Kearns. Reproduced is the Avay I want them. (The documents referred to are as follows:) Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, Culver City, Calif., August 16, 1947. Mr. Charles Boren, Association of Motion Picture Producers, HoUyivood 28, Calif. Dear Mr. Borex : I am attaching herewith an original and one copy of the jurisdictional disputes occurring in this studio in the last few years. I regret I cannot say with definiteness that these are all the disputes which have existed. 1 also regret that I am not able to properly document each of these cases inasmuch as time would not permit me to run down the record of the picture, set number, and the date upon which the dispute occurred. If such information becomes relevant and material to the inquiry in question, I would appreciate an opportunity to reedit this report. You will notice at the conclusion of the section, entitled "Disputes in the construction department," I have listed a number of items over which disputes have occurred. Unfortunately, time and the unavailability of certain studio personnel would not permit a complete documentation of these disputes. I have attempted to accurately report the essential facts of each of the disputes mentioned in the report. However, more time perhaps might permit a better editing of the material. Anyway I hope it will be satisfactory for your purposes. Any furtlier information I am able to give you in this regard, I will be happy to do. Sincerely yours, William R. Walsh, Industrial. Relations Manager. List of Jurisdictional Disputes, METRO-GoLDWYN-MAyEK Studios, Submitted BY William R. Walsh, Industrial Relations Manager disputes in the construction department Wave machines At approximately Thanksgiving of 19-14, B. C. DuVal, business representative of local 44, demanded the operation of wave machines which had for many years been operated by local 40. The demand was made the day before Thanksgiving and he threatened that unless I transferred the wave machines to him that he would not service the picture. However, he stated that he would consider the matter over Thanksgiving and let me know whether or not he would service the picture if he did not get the wave machines. At this time the machines were being operated in a set by members of local 40, IBEW. After the Thanksgiving holiday he agreed to let local 40 continue that shot but said if he did not get the machines next time they were operated, he would not service the picture. About 2 weeks later the same machines were in operation and over the objection of local 40 and under threat not to have the picture serviced by local 44 men the machines were turned over to local 44 men. Elevator indicator On the picture "Week-end at the Waldorf" we had a scene to be photographed in an elevator which presumably was going from the ground floor to the upper floors of the Waldorf Hotel. An elevator indicator had been made by the i>rop shop to cause lights to flash indicating the upward trip of an elevator and the light would flash as the elevator would pass each floor. Local 728 demanded to operate this indicator. It was operated on two occasions ; on both occasions we permitted local 44 prop makers to operate it and asked the unions to settle it with their international. Tomhstones We have had several arguments about who is to build tombstones, whether local 44 would build them claiming they were properties, or local 946 because they wei'e carpenter's work. It was the claim of local 44 that tombstones were set dressing and the claim of local 946 that they were carpenter's work for an exterior set. At the time of the strike this was still being done by carpenters Avith local 44 threatening to refuse to dress the sets.