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 2363 2. What will the iiiternatioiml unions involved do toward assuming the responsibility of disciplining their locals with respect, first to jurisdiction ; secondly, in violating their no-strike pledge; aud, thirdly, in seeing to it that tlie policies of the American Federation of Labor are carried outV Tlie Conference of Studio Unions, which called this strike has been a front organization for the enemies of the American Federation of Labor since its inception. It has consistently followed the Conununist I'arty line and has shown great sympathy and interest in the cause of the Communist-dominated CIO movement in southern California. When we called this matter to the attention of the otiicers of these international unions we were told by some of them that they could not C(»ntrol their local unions. As a nuitter of fact, the Painters International Union did order its local here not to strike, but the international order was defied. It iseemed to us that these international unions who are making complaints against the International Alliance must assume responibility in this situation if they are to make demands upon us through the American Federation of Labor. As we have previously mentioned, it is obvious to anyone who will permit himself to look, that the Conference of Stxidio Unions which called this strike has been used as a Connnunist-front organization to bore from within, destroy, and discredit the American Federation of Labor. The line which they have followed has been a program of agitation against the policies of the American Federation of Labor and the international unions affiliated with it. They have preached autonomy to the members and have tried to teach them to resent any action of the international unions in the same way that the Communists preach about democracy^only as a pied piper slogan in order the more easily to capture or destroy . This in our judgment has been done for the sole purpose of preparing the memliership of these unions to swing into the Connnunist-dominated CIO when these leaders felt the time was ftpportune. It is our opinion that the lATSE is one of the very few unions here which support the American Federation of Labor, and we are without question the bulwark of the American Federation of Labor strength in the motion-picture industry. If any action is taken blindly by the American Federation of Labor that would destroy the power of the lATSE or even materially weaken it, the only union which would ultimately benefit would be the Communist-dominated CIO movement in southern California. Fraternally yours, [seal] Richard F. Walsh, International President, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada. President Green stated that the question the council should consider is that because of the seriousness of this whole situation and the wide publicity given to the case in Hollywood, it is of sufficient reason to ask President A\'alsh and his associates to come to Chicago to go over the m-atter with the council. Pages 99-100: I'resident Walsh contended that the communistic element out there is an issue in this case. He stated he received a telegram from Hollywood in regard to a meeting Herbert Sorrell had last night at which there were two CIO speakers. Representative Roy Brewer made a detailed statement charging that there is danger from the Communist element out in California. He stated he has been on the coast since the day after this strike started and the threat of the Ct)mnmnist movement in Hollywood is very real. He charged that this threat is more than just a rumor, and contended that every one of the charters which the painters have issued in Hollywood are dominated by Communists ; that they have control out there : that they have conti-ol out there is absolutely unbelievable and amnzing. Mr. Brewer expressed the opinion that the lATSE is the only bulwark that is keeping the A. F. of L. in the studios and if the lATSE is destroyed and if Herl)prt Sorrell is permitted to destroy the movement, as he is trying to do, then the Communists will have complete control over the studios. Mr. Brewer pointed out that the nrotion-picture industry is the greatest propaganda agency in this country and the Connnunists have recognized that. Mr. Brewer presented excerpts from a publication from the People's Educational School in Hollywood which he stated is a Comm-unist-front school. He named prominent motion-picture personalities who have made appearances at this