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 1343 believes Ainerica has that ideal in (lemocratic capitalism. He stated that he believes we are going to be conipetitois with Russia and we are going to have to learn to get along with Russia and Russia is going to have to learn to get along with us. .Mr. Johnston stated in principle the American motion picture with its huge audience around the world can be a pertinent factor in explaining American lives. Mr. .lohnstoM stated this is tlie principal reason he went into the industry. He stated he soon realized that the heart of this great industry is in Hollywood, and that you cannot have a healthy l)ody if you have a sick heart; the limbs of the body won't function—and certainly the heart of this industry in Hollywood is not functioning properly today. Mr. Johnston explained that his job in Hollywood is an over-all planning job for the industry, but how could he do an over-all job for the industry if the heart of the industry is not functioning. Mr. Johnston stated that a little more than a week ngo lie went out to Hollywood and voluntarily got into this problem. He .staled lie asked the producers to give him complete authority to try to settle this strike and try to .settle it by better management relations in the future. Mr. .Johnston stated they gave him that authority. Mr. Johnston stated he talked to both sides in the controversy; that he first tried to learn the heart of the controversy, and it is extremely complicated. Mr. .lohnston stated it seems to him the important thing is to tind out how we are going to settle it because sooner or later if this industry is going to survive t]ie.>^e contestants must srand up and work together for a recognized objective. Mr. Johnston stated he has taken, and intends to take, no steps in the con- troversy to try to compromise the difterences involved, purely of getting the men back to work at the earliest ijossible opportunity and see that they have a luiitcd industry with a common objective. Mr. Johnston stated after discussing the problem with Mr. Walsh, who very kindly at Mr. Johnston's invitation, tlew out to be with them in Hiillywood and discussed the problem with the producers. Mr. Johnston stated he suggested that the men return to work immediately as of the same conditions as of March 12, 1945, when the strike occurred : then that the jurisdictional differences be settled under machinery suggested by President Green, carried through the presidents of the organizations involved, and if they could not agree in a reasonable length of time that an impartial arbitrator or representative be set up, whose judgment would be unquestioned, and the.v would report within a specified time: that displaced workers be taken CM re of by the industry by adequate severance pay to be negotiated between jnanjigement and the unions involved; and third, that permanent jurisdictional machinery be set up to avoid any future controversies, along the line that Mr. Dubinsky in his industry (ladies' garment workers) has so capably done for so many yeai's. Mr. Johnston stated this program was not acceptable to Mr. Walsh. He stated he suggested another program, namely: That all workers return imediately; each group to work with the other group in the studios. ^Ir. Johnston stated this plan was not accepted by 31r. Walsh's opposition under the theory that chaos would result and you would merel.y transfer the strike from the streets into the studios and would not settle it. Mr. Johnston stated he then propo.sed another compromise, namely: Tliat the strike be called off for a period of 2 weeks, during which time the.se jurisdictional matters would be settled and determined : At the end of the 2 weeks' period if the jurisdictional matters were not settled and determined that the strikers return to work under the same status that existed on March 12, 194.1. Mr. .lohnston stated this program was not acceptable to Mr. Walsh although it was accepted by the oppo.sition. Mr. Johnston stated, in other words, they got no place out there to speak of. Mr. Johnston expressed the belief that he does not think there is any animosity involved by eithei- side; that both sides cooperated with him in attempting to find ;i solution, but because of the bitterness, the hatred, the convictions of both sides would not settle the matter, it simply meant that neither side would agree to any compromise. Mr. Johnston stated he then appealed to President Green to come in and lay the matter lietore the council. Mr. Johnston stated he has always believed in self-regulation and that we cannot accomplish results by legislation. He stated he has always felt that self- regulation is the essence of democracy whereas compulsion in any form eventual]-*