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)

1122 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES cal Stage Employees versus Building Trades Department, the resolves reading as follows: "That the Fortieth Annual Convention of the American Federation of Labor direct the International Alliance of Theatrical S'tage Employees to cease further encroachment upon the jurisdiction claims of the building trades department, cancel such agreements as may have been entered into with the IMotion Picture Producers that affected employees of tlie building industry, and cause the mem- bers to be restored to their right organizations. For failure to carry out the spirit of this resolution within 60 days, the charter of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees shall be suspended." Vice President Hutcheson quoted the discussion that followed in the convention and the action of the convention which was that tlie report of the committee was adopted. Vice President Hutcheson referred to the proceedings of tlie Denver convention held in 1921, and quoted from the report of the executive council to the conven- tion on the matter of the controversy between the building trades and Theatrical Stage Employees (pp. 137-140), which included an exchange of telegrams be- tween President Gompers and President Lemke of the Theatrical Stage Employees, and the supplemental report of the executive council to the convention which was read by Vice President Duncan (p. 176) to the convention. Vice President Hutcheson then quoted the report of the committee on adjustment which con- sidered that part of the report of the executive council under the caption "Build- ing Trades—Theatrical Stage Employees" and the supplemental report of the executive council to the convention on this subject (pp. 4'67—468). He pointed out the recommendation of the committee which reads as follows: "Your committee recommends concurrence In the action of the executive council and also recommends that the president of the American Federation of Labor within 15 days from the adjournment of this convention call a series of con- ferences between the representatives of the Theatrical Stage Employees and each one of the contending organizations affected in the Building Trades Depart- ment in an effort to reach an agreement as to what the claims of each organiza- tion, relative to jurisdiction, are. These conferences are not to be general but are to be between the Theatrical Stage Employees and each one of the organiza- tions separately, and the president of the American Federation of Labor to appoint a member of the executive council to preside at same. If no agreements are reached between the contending parties the recommendations are to be put into effect on the date mentioned. "The"^ report of the committee was adopted unanimously" (p. 468). Vice President Hutcheson stated that on the 9th day of July 1921, in compliance with the decision of the American Federation of Labor, a conference was called and held in the executive council chamber of the Ajuerican Federation of Labor. He stated the organizations participating in that conference were represented as follows: The United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America: Mr. Frank Duffy and Mr. John Cosgrove. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees: Mr. Harry L. Spencer. Mr. William F. Canavan, Mr. Richard J. Green. The American Federation of Labor; Mr. Samuel Gompers, Mr. James O'Connell and Mr. Hugh Frayne. Vice President Hutche.son stated the entire subject of the jurisdictional claims was.thoroughly gone into with a view to reaching an agreement. He stated it was agreed by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees that all work done on lots or location and all work done in shops, either bench or machine work, comes under the jurisdiction of the United Broth- erhood of Carpenters and Joiners: and it was agi'^ed that all carpenter work in and around moving-picture studios belongs to the carpenters. Vice President Hutcheson stated this includes: (1) any and all carpenter work in connection with moving-picture studios, the construction of stages or platforms on which buildings or parts of buildings are to be erected; (2) all carpenter work in con- nection with the erection of any building or part of building, from which a picture is to be taken; and (3) the operation of all woodworking machinery in the making of all furniture, fixtures, trim, etc., for use in motion-picture studios belongs to the carpenters. Vice President Hutcheson stated it was further under- stood that the carpenters lay no claim to what is usually termed or referred to as the property man, or those employed in placing furniture, laying carpets, hang- ing draperies, pictures, etc.; and it was clearly understood that insofar as section 2 of this i>art of the agreement was concerned, and particularly the right to the