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 1439 ^Ir. HuTCHESOx. Are you concluding from that statement that all of this loss was because of jurisdiction, nothing else ? Mr. Owens. No ; I wouldn't say that. ^fr. HuTCHESON. Oh; I wondered. Mr. Owens. But _vou remember at the strike in New Jersey it Avas purely jurisdictional, involving about $50,000,000 w^orth of work. Mr. HuTCHESON. The work has been completed, liasn't it l Mr. Owens. Oh, yes; it now has, because you did get in and help get it completed. I was just wondering whether that couldn't be clone in this strike, too. That is all. Mr. Keaijns. Mr. Counsel, do 3'ou have questions of the witness? Mr. McCann. Yes, sir. These were submitted by Mr. Zorn: In March 1945, at your New Year meetings with Mr. Walsh, did you not insist that the carpenters be given jurisdiction over all work on wood, wood substitutes, and woodw^orking machinery in the studios I Mr. HuTCHESON. I requested and insisted that we have jurisdiction over all carpenter work. Mr. McCann. Is it not a fact that this claim would have taken from lATSE members work which they had clone for many years \ Mr. HuTCHESON. Not to my knowledge it wouldn't. Mr. McCann. Wlien you and your organization supported the paint- ers" picket line in their strike of March 12,1915, were you not violating the no-strike pledge you made to the President of the United States ? Mr. HuTCHESON. I made a pledge to the President of the United States, a no-strike pledge? Mr. McCann. I am reading a question, Mr. Hutcheson. Mr. Hutcheson. I don't know anything about that kind of a ques- tion. Mr. McCann. Mr. Chairman, I cannot interpret these questions. All we can do is read them and ask for an answer. Mr. Kearns. That is right. Mr. McCann. Did not your organization continue to support the painters' picket line in disregard of the request of President William Green contained in his telegram of March 16, 1915, to Mr. Sorrell which reads: Richard F. Walsh, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Motion Picture Operators of the United States and Canada, Hollywood, Roosevelt Hotel. I submitted tlie following self-explanatory telegram, for your information, to Mr. Herb Sorrell, Los Angeles: Rj'.uard strike of workers employed at motion-picture studios at Hollywood which press reports stated you have sponsored as a violation of no-strike pledge made by American Federation of Labor to President of United States for duration of war. It should never have occurred and ought to be terminated at once because millions of members affiliated with the American Federation of Liabor have upheld honor and integrity. The standing and good name of the American Federation of Labor by adhering strictly to its no-strike pledge; you ought to join with them by doing likewise. I officially disavow your strike and call upon you and your associates to cease and desist from using name of American Federation of Labor in any way in connection with your strike, particularly upon banners carried by pickets or otherwise in advertisements or public statements. I also call upon you and tliose on strike whom you represent to exercise good judg- ment to terminate tlie unjustified strike in which you are engaged immediately, and take up grievances for adjustment through agency set up for settlement of grievances during existing war emergencies. WitXIAM Gkeen, President, American Federation of Lal)or.