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 1049 held in New York. We were told by telephone that on the previous day the carpenters'' union would treat as ''hot" sets erected by mem- bers of the lATSE and would not do any mill or trim work on such sets. The producers' labor committee said that only two courses were open: (1) Close the studios or (2) obtain other employees to do the mill and trim work on the stages. The Hollywood group explained that a refusal to comply with the carpenters' ultimatum would result also in a work stoppage by the painters, so that if sets were to be constructed it would be necessary for other employees to do the painters' work. The situation outlined by the producers' labor committee was fully discussed at the New York meeting. I favored closing the studios. Some agreed with me. Others wanted to keep them open. The pro- ducers' labor committee recommended that the studios should try to continue to operate. This course prevailed. The carpenters then carried out their ultimatum. I have now covered the high lights of conferences in which I par- ticipated in connection with the Hollywood jurisdictional troubles since my association with the industry. You have indicated you desired my recommendations to avoid such disputes among unions. What I say now represents entirely my own point of view. All my business life I have advocated clean and clear-cut under- standings between labor and management. The progress, the pros- perity of our country—yes, even its very security—depend on great measure upon the building of a harmonious relationship between the two groups. This is essential to the successful functioning of a crea- tive democratic capitalism in America. Democratic capitalism, like no other system, offers freedoms, opportunities, decent living standards. If our society is to grow and advance, we must have unions just as we must have management. They are as much a part of a thriving America as our big city skylines. Wlien unions misuse their power and ignore their duty to the com- munity as a whole, they are contributing to industrial anarchy. Americans have made up their minds that they are not going to l^ermit industrial anarchy to undermine our democratic society. I think that jurisdictional strikes contribute to industrial anarchy. I think something should be done about them before they occur. My idea, therefore, is preventive medicine—an antistrike vaccine to inoculate the economic body against the disease of the jurisdictional strike. To achieve this end, I would suggest that the Congress supplement present legislation by requiring unions to arbitrate and settle jurisdic- tional disputes before picket lines form and work has stopped. Such legislation should compel the inclusion in all union-management con- tracts of clauses pledging the unions to peaceful arbitration of dis- putes over jurisdiction between rival unions. Mr. Chairman, that concludes my prepared statement. Mr. Kearns. Mr. Johnston, do you have anything to add to this at the present time before questions are asked you ? Mr. Johnston. I trust, ^Ir. Kearns—I heard your statement a few moments ago for the first time—I tiust you have not drawn the con-