Case Name: Opera on Tour, Inc., Respondent, v. Joseph N. Weber, as President of American Federation of Musicians, and George E. Browne, as President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees & Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Appellants
Court: New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1940-01-26
Citations: 258 A.D. 516
Docket Number: 
Parties: Opera on Tour, Inc., Respondent, v. Joseph N. Weber, as President of American Federation of Musicians, and George E. Browne, as President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees & Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Appellants.
Judges: 
Reporter: Appellate Division Reports
Volume: 258
Pages: 516–533

Head Matter:
Opera on Tour, Inc., Respondent, v. Joseph N. Weber, as President of American Federation of Musicians, and George E. Browne, as President of International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees & Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada, Appellants.
First Department,
January 26, 1940.
Henry A. Friedman, for the appellants.
John Kadel of counsel [Kadel, Sheils & Weiss, attorneys], for the respondent.
Revg. 170 Misc. 272.

Opinion:
Callahan, J.
Plaintiff is engaged in the business of presenting public performances of grand opera in various cities throughout the United States. Its productions omit the usual " live " orchestra, substituting a mechanical reproduction of an orchestral accompaniment in place thereof. The performances are given with full stage scenery and with a company of actors on the stage, including some choral singers, but the mechanical device used also reproduces additional choral singing.
Defendant Weber is sued as president of the American Federation of Musicians, a union which includes musicians who play in theatres and at operatic productions.
Defendant Browne is sued as president of the International Alliance of Theatrical & Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada (hereinafter referred to as the I. A. T. S. E.). Its membership includes stagehands as well as choral singers.
The gist of plaintiff's complaint is that the musicians' union has induced the I. A. T. S. E. to order its stagehand members to refuse to work for plaintiff, because plaintiff uses mechanical music; that, as a result of the refusal of the stagehands to work, plaintiff has been unable to present many performances for which it had contracted, as most of the theatres throughout the country are " closed shop " theatres, requiring the handling of stage scenery by union hands. Plaintiff contends that it is impossible for it to continue in business successfully if it uses " live " musicians, for the reason that the expense involved would be so great that it would be unable to meet the same. It contends that fifty or sixty musicians would be required for a proper orchestra. There is evidence in the record, however, that a touring opera company, somewhat similar to the plaintiff's, uses only sixteen or seventeen musicians. Plaintiff contends that so small an orchestra would be inadequate.
The records from which the plaintiff mechanically reproduces its orchestral music were made in London, England, by English musicians.
One Vladimir Schavitch, who was formerly a member of defendant musicians' union, but who was dropped for failure to pay the wages of musicians employed by him, was the one who conceived the idea of using mechanical reproductions of orchestral accompaniments. Schavitch continues to act for plaintiff as its artistic director of productions under a written contract.
The defendants contend that he (Schavitch) is working for a compensation less than the scale provided by the union. They also contend that a non-union pianist was used at rehearsals. The claims concerning Schavitch's employment and compensation and the employment of the non-union pianist do not seem to have been advanced by defendants until after the stagehands quit work and after this action was commenced.
The evidence discloses that the real reason for refusing to work was that the musicians' union, after giving consideration to the subject at various meetings, determined that the rendition of opera with mechanical or " canned " .music (as it is frequently referred to in the record) would increase unemployment among its members. They thereupon determined to endeavor to prevent the use of such music. They passed resolutions opposing all productions using " canned " music, and called the attention of the I. A. T. S. E. to plaintiff's use thereof. The I. A. T. S. E. likewise considered the question of the use of " canned " music, and passed a resolution opposing the use thereof in connection with the production of opera. It subsequently ordered the stagehands to stop working for plaintiff.
Plaintiff says that this action was unlawful in that the object of the " strike " was illegal. It contends that it never hired, or intended to hire, orchestral musicians, and that the defendants' efforts, if successful, would result in compelling plaintiff to hire employees who are unnecessary to the conduct of its business.
Plaintiff, after a trial, has secured a judgment against the defendants, which, among other things, permanently restrains defendants from directing or advising any persons to leave or not to enter plaintiff's employ because of the latter's use of mechanically reproduced music, or because of plaintiff's employment of Schavitch ns artistic director.
Defendants are appealing from that judgment on the ground that their action in refusing to have union men work in performances of opera in which mechanically reproduced music was used was within their rights. They assert that their conduct was lawful and necessary to protect their membership from the evil of increased unemployment. They assert further that the employment of Valdimir Schavitch and of a non-union pianist justifies their action.
Defendants raise the additional contention that this is a labor dispute within the meaning of section 876-a of the Civil Practice Act, and that the complaint should have been dismissed for failure to comply with that section. They also contend that, as section 876-a is applicable, the injunction should have been limited to a period of six months instead of being a permanent one.
It appears quite clearly from the evidence in the case that the defendants herein acted without actual malice or ill will in the matter. It seems undisputed that their actions have been guided by the primary motive of self-interest, in that they believed that unemployment would be increased if the use of mechanical music at operatic performances was not stopped. That it was not the defendants' primary or direct intent to injure or destroy plaintiff's business appears from the testimony and the documentary evidence in the record. This proof shows that the musicians' union took the position that if " five " music was used, they would have their members work for plaintiff. They refused, however, to compromise upon any basis less than the hiring of a " five " orchestra.
The record further discloses that the defendants deliberated carefully upon the effect that the use of mechanical music in the theatre and moving picture houses would have on unemployment among musicians. They also considered the effect of the use of music distributed by wire and reproduced by sound devices. The result of the defendants' deliberations with regard to these matters was that they determined to oppose the use of mechanical music in all places where orchestras might be heard. It is clear that defendants were not singling out plaintiff for attack, but attacking plaintiff along with all others who contributed to the unemployment of their members by the use of mechanical music.
There was no effort on the part of the plaintiff to dispute the good faith of defendants. Plaintiff takes the position that defendants' action is unlawful, for the reason that defendants' conduct will result in grievous injury to plaintiff, and that it cannot be justified as furthering a legitimate labor objective.
Summing up the situation presented to us, we find that the defendants, in order to secure what they believed to be their economic betterment, are endeavoring to prevent the use of a mechanical contrivance which is in the nature of a labor-saving device. This device is used to reproduce an essential element of plaintiff's business, viz., music played to accompany plaintiff's operatic perfoimanees. The case is not one where the defendants are trying to force plaintiff to use an additional feature in connection with their business, which plaintiff has determined it could do without. Plaintiff wishes to have musical accompaniment for its opera. It says it can get along with mechanical music and save the cost of musicians' salaries. The defendants say that, unless " live " musicians are hired, they will have less chance for work and, therefore, they are endeavoring, by stopping work, to prevent plaintiff's performances until plaintiff agrees to use a " live " orchestra.
It would seem to us that such conduct on defendants' part is justified as a legitimate endeavor of labor, even though it results in some injury to plaintiff.
Unquestionably, plaintiff has the legal right, if it so desires, to produce opera with mechanical music in preference to " live " musicians, but these defendant unions would seem to have an equal right to seek, by lawful and orderly means, to prevent plaintiff from using mechanical music, because the use thereof deprives their members of employment.
The court at Special Term held that the concerted refusal to work, on the part of these two unions, was wrongful. It also held that no labor dispute existed, but merely an economic question. Merely because an economic question is involved does not decide whether there is a labor dispute. Most labor disputes involve questions of an economic nature, directly or indirectly. In the present case, the economic problem may appear more prominently because the issue raised concerns the use of a labor-saving device and the effect of such use on employment.
The defendants take the position that the economic factor of cost is no more important to the plaintiff than is the economic factor of employment to the defendants. They contend that both have interests to protect, and that the courts should not interfere in behalf of either contestant.
Undoubtedly, the matter of securing employment is of fundamental interest to the workingman. Questions concerning wages, hours and improved working conditions could never arise unless there was opportunity for employment.
The right to use the concerted efforts of labor to secure employment has long been recognized in this State. In National Protective Association v. Cumming (170 N. Y. 315, at p. 327) our Court of Appeals said: " Those principles concede the right of an association to strike in order to benefit its members; and one method of benefiting them is to secure them employment, a method conceded to be within the right of an organization to employ. There is no pretense that the defendant associations or their walking delegates had any other motive than one which the law justifies of attempting to benefit their members by securing their employment."
In J. H. & S. Theatres v. Fay (260 N. Y. 315) a combination of workmen was formed for the purpose of obtaining employment for its members. Plaintiff in that case had leased and was operating three theatres at which one member of the defendant union had previously been employed. Plaintiff thereafter employed a member of a rival union in place of defendant's member. Defendant union then demanded that the plaintiff employ three of its members; one at each theatre. The court held that the defendant's object was legitimate, even though its demand might be unreasonable. The court stated (at pp. 317, 318):
" The defendant union is a lawful combination. It may, by lawful means, endeavor to induce the plaintiff to employ its members upon terms and conditions satisfactory to it. Its demand that the plaintiff employ one of its members at each theatre, though at the present time a single employee is performing the same work at all three theatres, may be unreasonable. It is attempting to destroy the plaintiff's business in order to induce, or, perhaps we should say, compel the plaintiff to comply with its demand and refuse to go on with the contract made with the rival union.
" ' Demands of workmen may sometimes be fair and sometimes unfair. Combinations give the workmen a power of compulsion which may work harm to their employer, the public and even to themselves. Where the workmen do not combine they may be compelled by force of economic circumstances to accept unfair terms of employment. Such conflicting considerations of economic policy are not primarily the concern of the courts.' {Interborough Rapid Transit Co. v. Lavin, 247 N. Y. 65, 74.) ' It is not within the province of the courts to restrain conduct which is within the allowable area of economic conflict.' {Stillwell Theatre, Inc., v. Kaplan, 259 N. Y. 405, 412.) A combination of workmen formed for the purpose of obtaining employment for its members upon terms and conditions satisfactory to them may use lawful means to achieve its purpose. The courts have not been constituted arbiters of the fairness, justice or wisdom of the terms demanded."
Though the cases cited did not involve the present question as to whether employees might oppose the use of a technological improvement, on the ground that it lessened the opportunity of employment, they did recognize the right of unions as a legitimate labor activity, to endeavor to secure employment for their members by combined as well as individual effort.
That the defendant stagehands' union is aiding the musicians' campaign by sympathetic action would not make defendants' action unlawful, for the stagehands have a direct interest in the subject. The economic welfare of both unions is closely related to the theatrical profession.
The limit placed on union activity is said to be that it " cannot extend beyond a point where its direct interests cease." (Bossert v. Dhuy, 221 N. Y. 342, at p. 365.) " Direct interests " include those of neutrals who are within the same industry. It has been held as to those outside a shop that they may have the right of self-interest in procuring unionization of the shop; and that there is too intimate a relation between unionization and economic betterment for the law to deny. (Exchange Bakery & Restaurant, Inc., v. Rifkin, 245 N. Y. 260.)
Under the rule enunciated in the decisions of the highest court of this State, a strike may be used in a proper case to bring pressure on those having a unity of interest to conform to the ideals of union labor. Logically, therefore, there can be no reason why those in the same industry may not voluntarily strike to aid one another in support of legitimate labor objectives. Nor does the unity of interest on the part of the stagehands depend solely on the fact that they are engaged in the same industry. They have a direct and vital interest in the maintenance of employment of their own members — the choral singers — as well as an economic interest in the continued employment of those in allied trades.
There is evidence in the present case that the action of the stagehands was due to obedience to a co-operative agreement had with the musicians' union.. If the object of the agreement was legal and it was made for the mutual interests of the parties thereto, fulfillment of such a treaty would not be unlawful.
In Bossert v. Dhuy (supra) we find several statements of the rules of the law applicable to labor disputes which seem appropriate here. At page 359 of that case the Court of Appeals said:
" An association of individuals may determine that its members shall not work for specified employers of labor. The question ever is as to its purpose in reaching such determination. If the determination is reached in good faith for the purpose of bettering the condition of its members and not through malice or otherwise to injure an employer the fact that such action may result in incidental injury to the employer does not constitute a justification for issuing an injunction against enforcing such action.
" Workingmen cannot be compelled to work when by so doing their position as workingmen will be injured, simply because if they do not continue their work a manufacturing employer will not be able to sell as large a quantity of material as he otherwise would and thus his good will, trade or business may be affected."
And at page 365 the opinion continued, as follows: " Voluntary orders by a labor organization for the benefit of its members and the enforcement thereof within the organization is not coercion. The members of the organization as we have already stated who are not willing to obey the orders of the organization are at liberty to withdraw therefrom. The bounds beyond which an association of employees may not as a general rule go in controlling its members in their dealings with employers are not easily determined. They cannot at least extend beyond a point where its or their direct interests cease. There is a material difference in the power of an association so far as it affects its primary or secondary interest. Where the acts of an employee or employees in their individual or associate capacity are reasonably and directly calculated to advance lawful objects, they should not be restrained by injunction."
That defendants' action may result in injury to plaintiff's business does not deprive defendants of the right to continue their endeayors was held in Interborough Rapid Transit Co. v. Lavin (247 N. Y. 65), where (at p. 80) the court said: " The defendants in taking lawful action to advance the interests of the members of that union are under ho affirmative duty of protecting the privileges or even rights of the plaintiff."
Under the principles of law which our courts have thus enunciated, it would seem to have been settled that to prevent unemployment is a legitimate labor objective, and the right to use every lawful and orderly means by concerted as well as individual action to carry out any legitimate labor objective is the privilege of workingmen. This right should be entitled to the same protection as is the right of an employer to use machinery for the purpose of making a profit. Our courts recognize that the economic conflict has two sides, both of which are entitled to consideration and protection.
It is contended by plaintiff that the objection to the use of machinery is an attempt to arrest progress. While many may deem this true, there are those who question the fact that we " progress " where we use machinery to such an extent that we destroy the opportunity for men to live by employment and thus create vast numbers of permanently unemployed. In any event, we see no reason why it is not a legitimate object of workingmen to attempt by lawful means to limit such alleged " progress " when it results in direct injury to them. Economic pressure may eventually compel the acceptance of mechanical changes, but there seems to be no legal reason why those who may be injuriously affected thereby may not meanwhile make lawful and orderly efforts to prevent or lessen the extent of the injury to themselves. It is well known that employers do not always use the latest technological improvements where such improvements might lessen their opportunity for profits or destroy large capital investments; and no one claims that they owe any one a legal duty to do so.
In the present case the product of the machine is but a duplica-, tion of the work of " live " musicians. There is no contention by-the plaintiff that original music produced by " live " musicians of equal skill may not be obtained, and would not be as acceptable to the public. The object of the plaintiff in using mechanically reproduced music is to reduce the cost of its production. It seems no more unlawful for defendants' members to wish to work, than it is for the plaintiff's stockholders to wish to make a profit. We think that the law should not take sides one way or the other in such a conflict, so long as lawful and orderly means are employed by those concerned in it.
In view of our determination that the injunction would be unwarranted under common-law principles, we need not determine the question as to whether the act of the defendants comes within the technical definition of a labor dispute as given in section 876-a of the Civil Practice Act.
- Nor need we rest our decision on the somewhat belated claim, that the employment of Schavitch, as well as that of a non-union, pianist, presented a labor dispute. We deem that on the main issue (whether the effort of the unions by the means used herein to compel the employment of " five " musicians is legal) we should find that defendants were engaged in a legitimate labor activity, and that the injunction herein is unwarranted.
A review of the authorities cited by respondent from other jurisdictions would serve little purpose. In fact in few, if any, of such cases was the precise question raised here directly involved. A somewhat similar economic conflict did occur in the case of Hopkins v. Oxley Stave Co. (83 Fed. 912). There the defendants were engaged in an attempt to stop the use of machinery in hooping barrels. But the defendants in that action were not merely calling on fellow workmen to stop work; they were attempting to enforce a boycott against the consumption of plaintiff's products. This action was clearly illegal under the Federal authorities which controlled the decision. The statements contained in the majority opinion concerning the limitations on the lawful objects of labor combinations were based on the rule established in England, which rule is far narrower than that followed in the State of New York.
One of the authorities cited in Hopkins v. Oxley Stave Co. (supra) was Barr v. Essex Trades Council (53 N. J. Eq. 101; 30 A. 881). In the latter case a typographical union objected to the use of certain " plate material," sometimes referred to as " boiler plate," in the make-up of a newspaper. The typographers organized a movement, in the nature of a campaign to boycott the paper, in which they were joined by many other labor organizations. This concerted action was held illegal, but the vice-chancellor pointed out, in his decision, that it would have been entirely legal for the members of the defendant union to leave the employ of the paper in protest against the use of the " boiler plate," and that such action would not have been considered illegal, although it was the result of a combination. The court said, in effect, that if defendants' activity had stopped there they would have been within their legal rights.
In the present case we are passing solely on the right of defendants, who have a direct interest in the subject, to stop work in protest against the use of mechanical music. We have no other question involved.
We think that the present case may also be distinguished on its facts from that of Haverhill Strand Theatre, Inc., v. Gillen (229 Mass. 413; 118 N. E. 671). In the latter case the owner of a motion picture theatre used an organ played by hand during the presentation of its pictures. The defendant union sought to compel the use of an orchestra of five pieces of instrumental music. The Supreme Court of Massachusetts held that defendants were guilty of an unlawful interference with plaintiff's right to the free flow of labor to which every business man is entitled. The court distinguished its prior decision in Pickett v. Walsh (192 Mass. 572; 78 N. E. 753), where it recognized the right of one union to strike because it claimed jurisdiction over a particular part of building construction work as against another union, by saying that in the former case the employer wanted the work done, whereas in the case before it the defendant attempted to force the plaintiff- to do work which it did not want to have done. A like distinction might be offered here. The defendants are not seeking to force one who was using " five " music to use different musical instruments nor to compel the use of more " five " musicians. They seek the use of " live," as against " mechanical " music. But even if the Massachusetts decision may not be distinguishable on the facts, it may be said that the courts of this State have never approved of law enunciated in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts supporting the right of an employer to a free flow of labor as a property right.
The present case is in no way similar to one where a shopkeeper is the sole person required to run his business and, therefore, is not subject to picketing to compel him to hire labor for which he has no need. (See Thompson v. Boekhout, 273 N. Y. 390.)
The judgment should be reversed, with costs, and judgment directed in favor of the defendants dismissing the complaint, with costs.
Townee y and Dore, JJ., concur; Martin, P. J., and Glennon, J., dissent and vote to affirm.