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 1175 Mr. Kearns. To try to keep the studios open by working with one pnrticiilnr union? Mr. Balaban. In September 1945 there was a grave question as to whether we could keep our studios operating. We said we would try. We were told upon inquiry of Mr. Walsh—at least this was re- ported to me—that it was a difficult thing to find men. Once we had given the striking carpenters every opportunity to return to work and upon their failing to return they were dismissed, then he would do the best he could to find men for us. Mr. Kearxs. The point I want you to answer is: You left that with the labor committee on the west coast rather than for the presidents to make the decision? Mr. Balaban. The only decisions the presidents were called upon to make were decisions of policy, shall we open, shall we close. Mr. Kearns. The detail of how you did that was left to the labor committee? INIr. Balaban. Entirely so. Mr. Kearns. Do you agree with Mr. Johnston that there should be legislation to deal with jurisdictional disputes of this type? Mr. Balaban. Well, sir, I have not had very much contact with labor in the last 10 years. But for the 25 years preceding I had a great deal of difficulty in jurisdictional arguments. The Congressman from Chicago will know some of the theaters we built out there and how we took care of it. Frankly I gave up many years ago of settling the jurisdictional question and I am not qualified to express myself on that point. What Mr. Johnston said yesterday seems to make sense. I believe basically the workingman does not want these break-downs, these uncertainties that he has to live under. I know a great manj^ of them myself and I think most American workingmen would wel- come any program. If it takes legislation then, by God, let it be legislation to do it. I think that is the only way you can do it. If labor cannot do it itself, as evidenced in the hearings here in the last 2 days, how is it going to be done? Certainly industry cannot do it. It is up to people in the highest places to create conditions which would make for a happier situation for the working people. Mr. Kearns. Do you have any questions. Counsel ? Mr. McCann. Yes, I have, sir. Mr. Balban, did you attend the Easter meeting of the presidents in New York City while the carpen- ters and other representatives of the CSU were not working, following the September 194G incident ? Mr. Balaban. Yes, sir; I did, Mr. McCann. Mr. McCann. Tell us what that conference was about. Mr. Balaban. We were faced with some very difficult demands on the part of the writers, I believe it was, the authors or the writers. They made demands that struck at the very core of our business. It was the actors. It involved the question of reissues. There were many, many things that we just could not concede. The labor group from the coast flew here on that day for the pur- pose of discussing that subject with us. Mr. McCann. At that time did they not discuss with you the ques- tion of their contract with the carpenters? Mr. Balaban. Later in the afternoon, we had about concluded our own discussion, when Mr. Boren, who was then headinc the labor