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)

2150 MOTION-PICTURE JURISDICTIONAL DISPUTES I am now quoting from pages 26 to 32, inclusive, and I think it pertinent that I read from these pages into the transcript so as to refute what Mr. Brown has apparently tried to do before your committee to make it appear that the only thing we had before our committee w^as the jurisdictional dispute over 21 machinists at MGM. That is not the case. On page 26 it says : Committeeman Doherty. Who has the jurisdiction over the repair of projection machines in tliose hooths? That is Roy M. Brown — Brother Brown. We do ; we have always done it. Committeman Birthright. Let me ask you gentlemen this : In 1936 the agree* ment was entered into by the Machinists International Union and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, by Wharton and Canavan, then president of the lATSE, in which it says— And Brother Birthright is quoting that agreement : "1. It is understood by both parties that members of the lATSE are recognized to have jurisdiction, to have charge of, to adjust, and operate all projectors and all appliances connected therewith." Now, I would assume that they assume the word "adjust" means repairs ; is that it? Brother Wayne. No ; it is actually putting the picture on the screen and adjusting it. Committeeman Birthright. I know what it means, and the agreement further reads : • "It is understood by both parties that the members of the I. A. of M. are recognized as having jurisdiction over the processes in the ma'nufacturiug of motionpicture machines. "3. That is agreed that members of the lATSE shall have jurisdiction over the Setting up, taking down of motion-picture machines in such i)laces as they are used for exhibition purposes." Here is the meat of the question, I think : "It is agreed by both parties that when temporary emergency running repairs are necessary the operator will make such repairs that are necessary to keep the machine in operatix)n." Do you recognize that? Brother Wayne. Yes. Committeeman Birthright. You recognize that the operator can adjust something to keep the machine in operation? Committeeman Doherty. And make running repairs? Brother Wayne. Right there in the booth when changing a belt. Cx^mmitteeman Birthright. In this case, why, they wouldn't allow him in the booth even though for the purpose of repairing the machine; is that right? Brother Wayne. That is the present practice ; yes : that's right. For further clarification, this man's duty is daily to go into each of the projection rooms and make a general inspection and oiling and adjusting and servicing of each of these machines preparatory to the day's work, and if a machine needs an overhaul he takes it out of the booth, carries it down to the shop, makes the necessary overhaul, and then puts it back up in the booth. It should be further pointed out that while that contract that you read from deals particularly and specifically with theater projection, it does not mean the operation of the projection machines in the studios because there it is not for exhibition pui-poses but more for inspection purposes. Not exhibition for hire or entertainment. It is like any other machine which you have to make an inspection of. They have projection liooths right next to each other, a string of them, four or five of them, a regular theater. They will have a screen at the far end of a room, a projection booth up here and all •they do, the directors or any others who have to do with deciding on the quality of the picture, is sit in there and watch that for inspection purposes, and we have always done that work, at least to my knowledge as far back as 1928 when I first entered the industry. Committeeman Birthright. Well, with respect to this agreement from which I read, although I realize it is not an agreement on studios, yet it does recognize that the basic jurisdiction of the two orgapizations.