Motion Picture Herald (Nov-Dec 1939)

40 MOTION PICTURE HERALD December I 6, I 939 EQUITY REVISINC RULES ON AGENTS Congressional Committee Attacks NLRB For uMessy" Rulings, Citing lATSE Case A special House committee formed to investigate the National Labor Relations Board heard William M. Leiserson, the newest board member, sharply criticize methods and rulings of the board and assert that Nathan Witt, secretary of the board, was unfit and unfair. Mr. Leiserson also stated that he had refused to participate in a number of cases which he considered to have been handled before he was appointed to the board. Mr. Leiserson testified against the board's handling of the lATSE case in which the board ordered an election in the major motion picture companies which was won by the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees {an A. F. of L. group) . Another case, involving Universal Films, was also called "messy" by the board member. The objection against the handling of the IATSE case was that the decision was based on "partial and unintelligible oral recitations of the secretary and his assistants. They didn't know the facts in the cases, and their conversation showed they would not understand the significance of the facts if they did not know them." There was no specific identification of the case in mind. The House committee, under the chairmanship of Representative Howard W. Smith, is all set for a lengthy series of hearings, at which the activities of the board will be deeply probed. It is possible that the investigation will require as much as three months, and it is likely that the handling of West Coast cases will be a feature. Some cases involving the motion picture companies will be reviewed, it is believed. The committee on Tuesday heard a memorandum by a regional director to the effect that John Boettiger, publisher of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and son-in-law of President Roosevelt, had criticized a decision of the board concerning his newspaper, which is Hearst's publication. Mr. Boettiger is a former assistant to Will H. Hays, president of the Motion Picture Producers and Distribtitors of America. (Continued from preceding page, column 2) present Broadway season, May 31st, 1940. Equity has turned over the matter to its attorneys to prepare a written report. The League has made no official statements on the wage increase demanded by Equity. Actors Equity is also revising the rules governing agents. Action is expected within a few weeks. The Equity council has made several announcements to members that its rules have been violated. Agents, on the other hand, claim that Equity's rules are too strict. The agents seek the right to charge a uniform 10 per cent. At present Equity members may hire only agents holding permits from Equity. Equity has divided agents into three classes : 1. — Employment agents who may charge no more than five per cent of an actor's salary for a period not to exceed 10 weeks ; 2. — Special employment representatives who must be prepared to give more personal and more expert service than employment agents. These must personally negotiate all details of the contract and obtain a salary of at least $125 a week for the actor and may charge five per cent for the run of the play ; 3. — Personal representatives who must guarantee to use the actor's service for a minimum of 20 weeks' employment during a season and at not less than the actor's average salary for the past three years. In no case is the minimum permitted to be less than $100 a week. Only agents in this class can charge ten per cent. Very few agents have permits for the third category. Fourth Trial for Nick The fourth trial of John P. Nick, St. Louis former head of the Motion Picture Operators' Union, charged with extorting $10,000 from theatre owners, is scheduled for January 8th. The first two attempts to try Nick ended in mistrials and for reasons that were not explained Circuit Court Judge Oakley discharged the jury of the third trial. Certain members of the Union, Local 143, IATSE, asked for an injunction forbidding Nick and his business agent, Clyde A. Weston, from taking any part in the union's affairs. The judge granted that request on December 6th. Projectionist Reinstated The Empire State Operators Union won a point in its dispute with United Theatrical Service Employes Union when Louis Katz, acting for the State Mediation Board, decided that Walter Underhill, Empire projectionist, who was dismissed last November was entitled to reinstatement at the Grand, Brooklyn. American Investors Union Bernard Reis, accountant for the Associated Actors & Artistes of America who served in the same capacity in the Loew's stockholders' action, has been appointed executive director of the newly organized American Investors Union. The purpose of the organization is to analyze security issues in the amusement and other industrial fields. The board members of the new group include : John T. Flynn, financial writer; George Seldes ; Paul Kern, president of the New York Civil Service Commission; New York City Councilman Robert Straus and Colston Warne, professor of economics at Amherst. Providence Theatre Signs Loew's State, Providence, is the first theatre to sign with Local B-129 Theatrical Employees, IATSE affiliate. The agreement, reached after over a year's negotiations, was announced by H. M. Addison, New England division manager for Loew's and Albert Byrnes, head of the local. The contract runs until Labor Day, 1941 and provides a six day week for all affected, ushers, doormen, cashiers, porters and other front house employees. The union officials believe that the other Providence theatres will soon sign. New Haven Union Elects Local 74 of the IATSE, covering employees in New Haven, Ansonia and Derby, reelected the following officers : John S. O'Connell, president ; Daniel B. Cummings, business agent ; Charles McBride, vice-president; Robert Watson, secretary; Charles Langley, treasurer. Edward O'Connell, Si Rudnick and James Carter are executive board members. Photographers Election Local 644 of the international photographers, IATSE, reelected all their officers last week. The officers are : Howard Muller, president ; Charles Downs, business agent ; Frank Kirby, treasurer; and Jay Rescher, secretary. There were no opposing candidates. Nominated for 25th Term Clarence King, treasurer of Musicians Local No. 6, San Francisco, for the past 24 years, has been renominated without opposition for his 25th term. Walter A. Wener, president for 18 of the last 19 years is opposed by Elmer Hubbard whom he defeated by 54 votes in last year's election. WQXR Workers Vote The National Labor Relations Board has announced that the operators, engineers and technicians of the Interstate Broadcasting Company, Inc., owners of WQXR in New York, would vote within 30 days to decide whether they would be represented by Local No. 913, Radio Broadcast Technicians & Engineers Union, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (AFL) or by the American Communications Association (CIO) or by neither. Networks Act as Agents The National Broadcasting Company and the Columbia Broadcasting System through their respective Artists bureaus have closed contracts with the Screen Actors Guild and the American Guild of Musical Artists under which the networks have permission to act as agents for actors and artists in the motion picture and concert fields. Newsreel Union Asks Increase Negotiations between the International Photographers Union (newsreel cameramen) and the newsreel companies have been going on for some time. The new contract is reaching final form. On Tuesday the newsreel company men met with Pat Casey, labor ' contact man, and discussed the requests made by the union. Included in the compromise agreement is a 10 per cent wage increase to all cameramen earning $100 or less a week and a flat raise of $10 to the men getting more than that figure. The increase will be retroactive to the early part of October. The newsreel companies are not in favor of giving severance pay, feeling that this would make it difficult for them to keep staffs at maximum efficiency. The union wanted a flat 10 per cent increase, severance pay, traveling expenses and a number of other points. The union also wished to cut down on the exchange of prints. This will probably be done except where government regulations or some other factor makes such a policy necessary.