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)

2148 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES Lindelof, preeident of the brotherhood of painters, to William McFetridge, president of the building service employees union ; and to Daniel V. Flanagan, our ' organizer in San Francisco : August 27, 1946. Dear Sir and Bkother : I enclose copy of a statement of clarification prepared by Vice Presidents Knight, Birthright, and Doherty, of the American Federation of Labor, who rendered a decision in the .lurisdictional disputes in the motionpicture studios in Hollywood, Calif., dated December 26, 1945. Said statement is self-explanatory and is transmitted to you as a matter of information. It is sent to you by direction of the executive council of the American Federation of Labor. Fraternally yours, Wm. Green. President, American Federation of Labor. Enclosure. Chicago, III., August 16, 1946. Pursuant to instructions handed down by tlie executive council at a session held on August 15, 1946, the Hollywood jurisdictional committee reviewed the work division applicable to the United Brotlierhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America, as set forth in the committee's decision dated December 26, 1945, and reaffirmed its previous decision. The committee took cognizance of the allegations contained in a report submitted to President Green by Organizer Daniel Y. Flanagan under date of August 9, 1946. According to a brief embodied therein, studio carpenters' local 946, U. B. of C. and J. of A., alleges that certain violations have taken place whereby the carpenter's jurisdiction set forth in the directive has been encroaclied upon. Jurisdiction over the erection of sets on stages was awarded to the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Operators of the United States and Canada under the provisions set forth in section 8 of the decision wliich specifically excluded trim and mill work on said sets and stages. The word "erection" is construed to mean assemblage of such sets on stages or locations. It is to be clearly understood that the committee recognizes the jurisdiction over construction work on such sets as coming within the purview of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America's jurisdiction. Sections 2 to 5, inclusive, recognized the rightful jurisdiction of the United Brotherliood of Carpenters and Joiners of America on all millworli and carpenter work in connection with studios, all work in carpenter shops, all permanent construction and all construction work on exterior sets. In view of the alleged violations, the committee hereby directs that all participants in the Hollywood motion-picture studio dispute strictly adhere to the provisions of the directive handed down on December 26, 1945. Felix Knight. W. C. Birthright. W. C. Doherty. Secretary-Treasurer Meany stated that President Green sent this out specifically as a matter of information and he sent it out as a clarification by the committee that made the original decision. Secretary Meany stated the committee must have had in mind that there was some difference between "erection" and "construction." He stated in normal usage there is very little difference between "erection" and "construction" but the committee must have had something in mind that there was a difference because the committee used the two words in th esame paragraph ; they say "construction" is the carpenters, "erection" is the motion-picture operators. He stated that in their minds there must have been a sharp difference. The council discussed the matter. President Green stated it seemed to him that if a further statement is to besent out as has been suggested that it should be based on the further clarificaion as has been stfited or a further interpretation by the committee. President Green stated it would be easy for the committee to say that in the tliird paragraph of is interpretation that "the erection of sets comes under the jurisdiction of the lATSE ; the construction of sets comes under the jurisdiction of the United Brotherhood of Cnrpenters and Joiners of America." Vice President Hutcheson stated that would be agreeable to him. President Green stated that the committee could quote the third paragraph of the clarification and say it means that the "erection" of sets comes under the