Evening star., 1947-10-07
AFL Showdown Fiuht
In Film Union Dispute
-0pening in Council
By Jones Y. Newton
Sfor Stoff Correspondent

By Jones Y. Newton
s.ar staff Correspondent
SAN FRANCISCO. Oct. T.
The American Federation O.
Labor today headed toward {
showdown in the two-and-a
half-year-old Hollywood film
studio jurisdictional dispute
which was billed as a test of the
power and influence of the
newly formed alliance of John
L. Lewis, mine workers presi-
dent, and William L. Hutcheson
boss of the carpenters.
The Federation's Goth convention
was in recess while it's Executive
Council met for its fifth attempt In
two years to settle the bitter inter
union row which has kept the mo-
tion picture industry in turmoil.
Mr.. Hutcheson has limited that
unless the dispute is settled to his
satisfaction he will lead the 600, ,0OC
members Of his union out of the
AFL. His power in the federation
has been great and virtually un-
challenged for more than two dec
ades. He has in his corner Mr..
Lewis. who also once again is max
ing threatening gestures to go his
way.
Meanwhile. the convention awaited
word from Washington on the ex-
pected decision of the National
Labor Relations Board in the con-
troyersial issue involving the filing
Of nom Communist afhdavits by AFL
officers. Federation officials look for
a ruling momentarily from the
board reversing its general counsel,
Robert N. Denham. Mr.. Lewis has
blocked AFL compliance with the
Oenham ruling by refusing to file
4 Taft-Hartley paper disavowing
Communism.
An interesting aspect of the Lewis
fight with fellow AFL powers came
out today. This is the situation:
If Mr.. Lewis is repudiated by
the convention for his stand in
the affidavit battle and decides to
lake the United Mine Workers dele
cation from the meeting it would
be cause of embarrassment to
Green, AFL president.
Mr.. Green is one of the regular
UNIV delegates to the convention.
The UNIV constitution states that
all delegates are bound by the de-
cision of the majority. Therefore,
if the delegation votes to take a
walk, Mr.. Green would be forced to
go along too, or break outright with
his union.
All Disputants Called In.
The Executive Council called in
all sides of the dispute in Holly
wood. where nearly 5000 members
of AFL craft unions, most of whom
are carpenters and painters, have
been on strike for more than a
year.
They are on strike because the
AFL International Alliance of The
atrical Stage Employees (the stage
hands, were given work erecting
movie sets which the carpenters hold
is rightfully in their jurisdiction An
early ruling of Special Executive
Council Committee was in favor of
the stage hands.
Mr.. Hutcheson has refused to yield
to the stage hands and some other
AFL craft locals in Hollywood are
the strike. However, the
stage hands are recognized by the
movie producers and are daily
going about their work through
picket lines as though nothing were
going on.
A resolution will be submitted to
,he 15-member council by the
Hutcheson-Lewis forces calling upon
The convention to suspend or re-
yoke the charter of the stage hands.
Several council members who are
lot involved in the controversy pre-
lict the resolution will be defeated.
If he is defeated, Mr.. Hutcheson
nay leave the AFL unless the coun-
I'll employs a delaying action to
things over for the time
being. Under their pact of mutual
Mr.. Lewis and his miners
would walk out, too.
Strong Forces Against Him.
Mr. Hutcheson has arrayed against
him in the fight such powerful fed
,ration figures as Daniel j. Tobin,
1ead of the teamsters and George
Meany, secretary treasurer. They
claim a majority of the council.
Mr. Tobin has indicated he is fed
lp with Mr.. Hutcheson's threats to
70 home unless he has his way.
Most of the AFL officials believe
The Hollywood jurisdictional strike
1as brought much ill-will to the
they say they are de-
5ermined to dispose of the argument
before further damage is done.
The convention opened yesterday.
Addresses Of welcome were made by
Sow. Earl Warren of California,
Mayor Lapham of San Francisco
md a number of other officials.
In the main speech of the day,
Secretary of Labor Schwellenbach
truck out at manufacturers and