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 1509 President Green stated that one of these delegates called on him while he was there at Lakeland and stated that it is a very serious situation, and that the membership were deeply moved and he did not think that they ever would acquiesce in tlie decision, because they claimed the decision had taken work away from tliem that tliey had performed for a long period of time. President Green stated he asked him if tliere had not been an agreement in effect between the lATSE and the carpenters at one time, but he said the situa- tion is ditferent now altogether and he was apparently very much disturbed about it. Vice Presid-ent Hutcheson stated that he was receiving protests from hundreds of members of t'he brotherhood, protesting the situation as it is at the present time. The council discussed the matter at length. Vice President Hutcheson stated that the council has this problem before it and must either give this situation consideration now or have it worse later. He stated that the carpenters are being replaced steadily in the work the com- mittee said should be done by the lATSE but which is regularly the work of the carpenters. Vice President Hutcheson stated the carpenters cannot sit idly by and let some other organization get their work. Vice President Doherty, of the executive committee, stated that the commit- tee did give the jurisdiction over the erection of sets op stages to the lATSE and nothing else. He stated the committee handed down a decision as honestly and conscientiously as they knew how. He stated the committee did not want to hurt anyone, that Chairman Knight asked each of the participants to the dispute if they could not come to some agreement or understanding so that the commit- tee would not have to hand down a decision. They failed to do so and the com- mittee did hand down its decision. Vice President Doherty contended that the committee handed down a decision which was definite, final, and binding on all parties. He contended it was not a matter of accepting or rejecting the committee's actions. Vice President Bugniazet suggested that President Green call up Eric Johnston and advise him that there is a protest from the carpenters that they are being moved off the work in violation of the settlement and ask him to have it corrected. Vice President Knight reviewed the case from the time the committee was appointed and went to Hollywood, held the hearings with representatives of each of the organizations named in the directive of the executive council and the final decision of the committee. Vice President Hnteheso!i protested that he was not given an opportunity as general president of the Ignited Brotherhood to appear before the committee. The members of the executive council committee contended that the carpenters did have a representative there who presented information in support of the position of the carpenters. The coui^cil discussed the matter. It was regularly moved that the chairman convey to Eric Johnston the charges made by the carpenters that the personnel and directors of the studios are dis- placing the cari)enters and giving the carpenters' work to the members of the lATSE. contrary to the decision made by the committee that was appointed to settle this dispute, and that he had agreed to see that the decision of the com- mittee was carried out by the studios and request him to investigate the matter and carry out the decision and see that it is done. During the di.scussion that followed. Vice President Hutcheson stated that he would like to call attention to the council members that he had not said anything about the decision being violated; that the action of the convention of the brotherhood is that the carpenters have restored to them that jurisdiction that belongs to them and that it not be infringed upon. The council discussed the matter. It was regularly moved that this council recognize the jurisdiction of the car- X)enters as set forth in their constitution and recognized by the American Federa- tion of Labor and do everything we can to get them their jurisdiction. During the discussion Vice President Birthright pointed out that the commit- tee stated at the Miami meeting that the decision would not affect the jurisdiction of anyone outside of these studios. It was decided to let the matter rest until tomorrow morning and then take it up for consideration.