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)

MOTIOX-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES 1095 Mr. Rathvox. If that is a correct statement of what happened, I have little doubt but what he reported it to me. As I say, there were many incidents similar to that which he reported, and I cannot dis- tinguish one from the other as to this period of time. Mr. McCann". And he kept you informed of what took place at these labor committee meetings? Mr. Rathvon. Pretty generally. I have great confidence in Mr. Goldberg. He did not "have to come to me after every meeting for instructions. Mr. McCanx. Were you informed of the meeting of the presidents on ::!^eptember 12, 1916, concerning which Mr. Johnston testified this morning ? Mr. Rathvox. Yes; I had knowledge of it afterward. I was not in New York. Mr. McCaxx. I understand you were not there. Did you talk with Mr. Johnston or any of the other presidents in New York about it? Mr. Rathvox. Not at that time. yiv. McCaxn. When did you talk to them about that, sir? Mr. Rathvox. I am not even sure I did talk to them about it. I may have gotten such knowledge as I had of that meeting from others. MrrMcCAxx. There was a meeting on September 12,1916, in Holly- wood, of the producers labor committee. The record shows that Mr. Goldberg was present at that meeting. I will ask you whether or not Mr. Goldberg informed you after that meeting that Mr. Kahane stated: There are two courses to pursue: (1) If the sets become hot and as men are laid off do not cross jurisdictional lines, doing nothing to cross the picliet line being established; shoot until sets are exhausted and then close down; or (2) attenjpt to keep open as we did on :March 12, 1945. call on the lA to do the struck work, iind do the best we can. This would bring on picket lin?s and the accom- panyint: strife. It is apparently the opinion of the New York executives and .Johnston to try the second course. If we try this course and call upon lA and they should fail to be able to keep us open, then the lA may attempt to get the federation to settle the matter or adjudicate the matter with the carpenters. Were you informed of this conversation? ]Mi'. RATTfvox. If I say "Yes," you will assume that I say all of that is correct. Undoubtedly I was informed of what took place at that meeting. My recollection is not such that I could say in detail what you have said tliere is what I was informed. Olie thing I am sure of is that I Avas informed we were in another one of our difficulties and we had to move in some direction. We again miglit close the studios or we again might take such action to keep the studios open as counsel would advise us was proper, Mr. McCax'X. On Se]:)tember 12, 1916, there were issued instruc- tions to department heads, reading as follows: 1. Any employee who refuses to perform the work properly assigned to him in accordance with his regular classification of work .should be requested to leave the premises. 2. In the event tliat such employee asks whether he is being discharged he should be told, "No." 3. In th(? event tliat any such employee asks whether or not he is being laid off. he should be told that lie is not being laid off but that he is not wanted on the pretinses as long as he refuses to perform his customary duties. 4. In the event that any sucJi employee further asks what is his status, he .should be told that he is requested to leave because of his refusal to perform services requested. He should be paid off to the time of leaving.