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)

508 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES TESTIMONY OF EDWARD M. GILBERT, BUSINESS REPRESENTATIVE, SCREEN SET DESIGNERS, ILLUSTRATORS, AND DECORATORS, LOCAL 1421, LOS ANGELES, CALIF. Mr. Kearns. Do you recognize his letter that you wrote me [indicating] ? Mr. Gilbert. Yes, sir. Mr. Kearns. Is this an accurate copy of the report that you wished entered into the record here? Mr. Gilbert. It is. Mr. Kearns. Will you, for the sake of the record, ask and request this be placed in the record pertaining to your union? ]\Ir. Gilbert. I would request that the statement which I hold in my hand be placed in the record as a part of the evidence in this hearing. Mr. Kearns. Thank you very much. Mr. McCann. Just a minute. May I ask, please, sir, for the record, if you will state your name and your residence and your telephone number, so we will have that? Mr. Gilbert. My name is Edward M. Gilbert. 1051 East Magnolia Boulevard, Burbank. My telephone number is Charleston 6-2690. Mr. McCann. What official position do you occupy with a union? Mr. Gilbert. I am business representative of the Screen Set Designers, Illustrators, and Decorators Local 1421. Mr. McCann. Mr. Chairman, may I ask, is it your desire that this material be reproduced as a part of the record, rather than as an exhibit ? Mr. Kearns. That is correct. Mr. McCann. Then may we have it follow this little statement as to his residence and official position ? Mr. Kearns. No objection. (The document referred to is as follows:) Statement of E. M. Gilbert, Bi^siness REPEESENTATn'E of Screen Set Designers, Illustrators, and Decorators, Local 1421, on Behalf of That Union and the Conference of Studio Unions There has been long, bitter, costly discord in the film industry. A congressional committee is now investigating this industrial strife — its background and causes. The committee's avowed purpose is to seek out the true issues, to fix responsibility in the light of national labor legislation, and to use its good ofhces to restore industrial peace in the studios. The committee has a splendid opportunity to accomplish these aims. It will hear industry, labor, and public witnesses. We offer our utmost cooperation toward the end tliat the full story be brought to liglit. In this, the story of one group of studio workers, we have much to contribute. We believe that our labor-relations experience will illustrate the basic causes of the strife. We believe that our story will show what is wrong and what needs to be corrected in studio employer-employee relations. The workers I represent are artists and semiprofessional employees who work as designers, illustrators, decorators, model artists, and costume designers and illustrators. We are members of local 1421, the Conference of Studio Unions, and the Brotherhood of Painters. Our work requires a high degree of talent and skill and knowledge of film techniques. Our members have had long training and experience in architecture and allied professions. I am personally qualified to relate this siory because I have made my living as a set designer in the studios, excepting for brief interruptions, since 1927. For 12 years I have been active in our union affairs and have carried union responsibilities. Since June 1946, when I was elected business representative, I have worked for local 1421.