PONDERS TAFT-HARTLEY WAL

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J | ' , ' FILM INDUSTRY PONDERS EFFECT OF TAFT-HARTLEY LABOR ACT Law Has An Immediate Effect on the Current Strike in Studios There is every indication that the Taft- Hartley labor act. passed by Congress over President Tiuman's veto this week, will have widespread repercussions throughout the motion picture business. Within 60 days, when most of the specific provisions of the act go into effect, the labor relations in the studios, at the home offices, and in exhibition across th-; country will undergo their most drastic change since the Wagner labor act went into effect a dozen years ago. UPPER HAND TO PRODUCERS Its immediate effect is to give producers a strong upper hand in dealing with studio unions which have been involved in a jurisdictional dispute for many months. The new law. in unequivocal language, makes the Jurisdictional strike an illegal act. Here the law is expected to accomplish what almost a year of continuous negotiations between unions and producers and conciliators has failed to do. The new law prohibits "featherbeddmg," eliminates the closed shop, forces unions to bargain collectively with employers, makes unions liable for damage suits in jiurisdictional strikes and for breach of contract, permits the government to obtain injunctions again.st unions to stall off a strike for 80 days, and contains a number of other provisions that will have an effect in employeremploye relations in the film industry. There were no immediate comments from either the film companies or the unions, except that there was every indication that interpretations of the law will be many, that most of them will wind up in the courts for decision. Various labor leaders, although none in the motion picture mdustry itself, already have indicated a desire to test the provisions in the courts. The year promises to be one of legal maneuverings in the field of labor law. AFFECTS 17 STUDIO UNIONS The clo.sed shop provision of the law will affect 17 of the 40 unions m the studios, and many others in distribution and exhibition. All contracts which existed on June 23, when the Taft-Hartley bill became law, continue until they expire. For 60 days after June 23, It is permissible to sign clo.sed shop agreements, but for no longer than one year. When the 60-dny period is up. no new contracts with this provision may be signed, nor may old ones be renewed. All lATSE projectionists, for Instance, who now hold closed shop agreements with exhibitors will not be able to retain this provision after present contracts are up. The new law also presents the problem of Industrywide contractual negotiations, which have been a pattern In many levels of the motion picture business. Under the act. a union may not force an employer to bargain through an Industrj'wlde a.ssociatlon of employers If he prefers to bargain by himself. It probably Is permissible, but cannot be mandatory. This happens to be an Immediate problem facing the American Guild of Variety Art- Provisions Directly Affecting Industry Unions cannot bargain for foremen or supervisors. This may prevent theatre managers and other key supervisory employes from forming unions to bargain with e.vhibitors. Unions cannot force an employer to pay for services not performed. This is aimed at "featherbedding." It is expected to strike at such industry practices as standby orchestras, standby stagehands, etc. Jurisdictional strikes are illegal. A union cannot strike or boycott to force an employer to assign work to one union instead of another. This will affect the current Hollywood studio strike. Unions are prohibited from restraining or coercing an employer in his choice of a union with which to deaL In effect, this means that a union cannot strike to force a company to bargain through an industrywide association of employers instead of bargaining by himself. This restriction may affect industrywide contracts with such groups as the Screen Actors Guild, Screen Extras Guild, Screen Publicists, etc., and the studio crafts. Closed shop clauses will not be permitted in new contracts. Of the 40 unions at the studios, 17 have closed shop provisions in their contracts. This provision also will concern many of the I.ATSE contracts now in force throughout the industry. Union shop provisions, i. e„ workers must join the union within a specified period after being employed, may be included in contracts only if a majority of the emplo.ves vote for a union shop in an NLRB election. Damage suits may be filed against unions for breach of contract, jurisdictional strikes and boycotts. This is a provision which would allow studios to sue for damages in the event production was disrupted in a labor situation as currently exists on the west coast. Employes holding executive posts in unions .seekins recognition must file affidavits disclaiming membership in the Communist party or any group favoring overthrow of the government by force. Ists, known as AGVA. Matt Shelvey, national administrative director of the organization, said that the law may affect pending contracts covering 20 presentation houses operated by RKO, Warners, Paramount and Loew's. Pacts were agreed upon several months ago, but actual signing was delayed pending outcome of the Taft-Hartley bill. Shelvey said the union's lawyers will meet with circuit lawyers to determine whether the law prohibits a single contract for several circuits operating interstate. The union is prepared to negotiate separate agreements for each presentation theatre If the decision Is that clrcultwlde pacts are Illegal. Unions which will be hard hit by the closed shop provisions are the lATSE, Associated Actors and Artistes of America (AAAA), and ' 1; the American Federation of Labor Th overwhelming majority of these unions a' of the closed shop variety and the remamd are union shop. , Along the home office front, officers or United Office and Professional Workers America iCIOt, and its locals, the Sere. Publicists Guild, and the Screen Office ai Professional Employes Guild already ha held meetings in New York to discuss pli to fight for repeal of the law. and to jo' with other unions in seeking defeat of co gressmen who supported the veto. The la however, says unions cannot spend mon or make contributions for political car paigns and one of the points of strateg)- be discussed is how to provide labor n financing for its campaign. NEW COAST DEVELOPMENT Meanwhile, on the west coast, there wii second development on the week's lal front. It concerned the brief probe cc ducted in Hollywood by representatives the House labor committee, Congressir, Carroll D. Kearns and Congressman Irv McCann. Following their shortlived inu. gation, the pair returned to Washim:- promising to return within a month to : ther propose the possibilities of racketet: within film capital labor circles and metr. Whether the enactment of the Taft-Har bill will make such further probing nece.v is still to be determined. While on the coast, the congressmen he testimony from Pat Casey, retiring ;a chief for producers: I. E. Chadwick. pr^ dent of the Independent Motion Picture P ducers Ass'n; Ray Young. Eagle-Uon 1* i head: Fred Steele. Monogram's studio m* I ager: Edward Nassour, owner of the Nas*( studio: Chris Beute, studio manager, h^ tion Picture Center: and Herman Dt stein. Pine-Thomas business manager.; Featherbedding Is Out In New Ohio Labor Act j COLUMBUS—Featherbedding practice* theatres, such as standby orchestras a'l extra stagehands, will be prohibited ua" terms of the Van Aken labor bill passed.' the Ohio legislature and awaiting OoTeri Herbert's signature. Strikes in support) j such practices are specifically forbidden. 1 "Any strike to compel an employer to money for services not performed or to f* ,| employment of any person or persons not quired, or to use material or equipment, required by the employer," is forblddec^ this language. Unfair labor practices of both emplft j and employes are defined In the bill, i | ployers are forbidden to interfere Inu organization, to use the "yellow dog" tract, to fire workers for filing charges it the act and to refuse to bargain collect with union representatives. Employes forbidden to use violence in picketlnf engage in illegal picketing: to partld in sympathy, jurisdictional or sitdownst, or secondary boycotts: to strike in suppo featherbedding practices, or to strike to pel employers to recognize a represent, not chosen by a majority of the workers Unions may be sued for injurj' caust "person or property" by such illegal st Fines may be levied against imlons If are found guilty under terms of the i> 8 BOXOFFICE : : June M.
: flpiure, ' ' • was i • with ^OTH-FOX OFFERS PROFIT SPLIT \\T0 SMALL SPOTS ON % DEALS e;ey Allied Gets Smith Pin Which Is Termed JRe^olutionary Step „lew By J. M. JERAULD ANTIC CITY—Andrew W. Smith general sales manager of 20th-Fox, ids to offer a new plan of percentage doals to subsequent run exhibitors to "problem" theatres in both large • mall communities, a plan which prac y 1,'uarantees the exhibitor a sliding of profits. |b new plan is to be tested first in the Haven area. Percentages will run from r cent to not over 40 per cent, with .split over the 40 per cent figure. less than two or more than five of impany's big films will be offered on lasis each year. re
Page 1 and 2: INDUSTRY PONDERS EFFECT OF THE TAFT
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Page 19 and 20: m. THE SELZNICK RELEASING ORGANIZAT
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Page 25 and 26: NORMANDIE . :j^;//.H Star TRADE SHO
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Page 29 and 30: i I ••• • I In Hew York's E
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Page 33 and 34: I One ' I — Cl^STER FRIEDMAN EDIT
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Page 43 and 44: 1 Ids I jply xhibitor Henry Reeve o
Page 45 and 46: Lachman Re-Elected Head of N.J. All
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Page 53 and 54: i Ijrilish !o Tax Films \)n Earning
Page 55 and 56: f What every bride shouldn't know:
Page 57 and 58: EWS AND VIEWS THE PRODUCTION CEMTER
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LOS ANGELES AT ITS BEST WHERE IN AM
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Opinions on Current Productions; Ex
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PONDERS TAFT-HARTLEY WAL

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