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1314 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Mr. Owens. Now, refusing to cross the picket line you are talking about, is that the strike that took place while the war was on? Mr. Brown. No. I am referring to the incident which occurred during September of 1946, when the carpenters and painters were being discharged wholesale, so to speak, because they would not handle "hot sets. Finally a picket line was put on. Local 1185 has had a pro- vision in their bylaws for years that they will not cross a picket line. When the picket line was established they refused to cross it. Mr. Owens. Was that true in March or April of 1945, when they had the strike at that time ? Mr. Brown. Yes. They refused to cross the picket line. Mr. Owens. You cooperated with the strike in violation of the agree- ment with the President of the United States? Mr. Brown. The membership of local 1185, pursuant to their bylaws, refused to cross the picket line. That is all I know about it. Mr. Owens. I say even though you knew there was an agreement that labor was not to strike during wartime? Mr. Bbown. There was a verbal promise and the records would show there was not a union in the United States that had as clean a record as the machinists did with respect to adhering to the promise of not strik- ing during the war. Mr. Owens. Mr. Brown, I am not concerned with anything in the United States now, except this particular case we are investigating. Mr. Brown. Yes. Mr. Owens. I am asking you whether or not you knew that you were going against the verbal promise that was given to the President of the United States not to strike during wartime? Mr. Brown. The membership of 1,185 refused to cross the picket line. They have that autonomous right, that local right. Mr. Owens. I say you supported that even knowing that there was a verbal promise not to strike during wartime? Mr. Brown. We supported them out there when they refused to cross the picket line, yes. Mr. Owens. Therefore you did involve yourself with the quarrels of the other unions with the producers ? Mr. Brown. If respecting their picket line involves us, yes. Mr. Owens. Did you have a contract with them then ? Mr. Brown. Yes. Mr. Owens. Did you fulfill your contract ? Mr. Brown. So far as I know the contract did not contain a no- strike clause and when the strike was in effect then, entering the studios was a hazardous venture, so to speak, and our people elected not to cross that picket line. Mr, Owens. Are you saying that the employees of another union who worked during the war period were strikebreakers ? Mr. Brown. Yes. Mr. Owens. That is what you meant by strikebreakers in your statement ? Mr. Brown. In 1945. yes; and in 1046. Mr. Owens. I am talking about 1945 now. Mr. Brown. Yes, anybody who works behind the picket line is a strikebreaker. « Mr. Owens. And those were union men ? Mr. Brown. They were members of unions.