Title supplied by cataloger.; Photograph was edited for publication purposes. In February 1945, Herbert Sorrell lead a six-month strike that originated with a dispute between two unions, the CSU (Conference of Studio Unions) and the IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees and Moving Picture Machine Operators of the United States and Canada) over which one of them had union authority over seventy-seven set decorators. An independent arbitrator appointed by the War Labor Board found that the CSU had jurisdiction over the set decorators. When Hollywood producers refused to acknowledge that decision, the strike began. Around 10,000 CSU workers went on strike, picketing all of the studios. Many members of IATSE refused to cross the picket lines or do work normally filled by members of the CSU. The studios, however, had films already completed and were able to handle the strike better than the workers. By October, resources were running low and on October 5, 1945, picketers and replacement workers were involved in a bloody battle that became known as Hollywood Black Friday. Police and sheriffs from several departments were called in to handle the melee. Over 40 people were injured and property was destroyed. The strike was settled for a time. Another strike was called in September, 1946, after the studios replaced CSU workers and locked them out. After more fighting, the Screen Actors Guild voted to cross picket lines, a blow to the strikers. The CSU finally voted to permit impoverished members and supporters to cross the picket lines and return to work. These events led to the enactment of the Taft-Hartley Act, a federal bill that restricts the activities and power of labor unions. Photograph caption dated March 12, 1945 reads "Strikers are shown picketing one of Hollywood's major studios today. More than 15,000 film workers remained away from their jobs as a result of the strike caused by a jurisdictional dispute over 72 set designers." A group of men is standing in a driveway, near the guard house at the entrance to a studio. A garage of some sort is to the right and lumber and other buildings can be seen in the background. Two of the men are holding signs that say "Unfair to Local 1421 Painters and Decorators, A. F. L."
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Image
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1 photographic print :b&w ;21 x 26 cm. Photographic prints
Conference of Studio Unions Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators, and Paperhangers of America.--Local 1421 (Los Angeles, Calif.) Strikes and lockouts--Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles Picketing--California--Hollywood (Los Angeles) Labor unions--United States Motion picture studios--California--Los Angeles--Employees Motion picture studios--California--Los Angeles Motion picture industry--California--Los Angeles--Employees Signs and signboards--California--Los Angeles Lumber--California--Los Angeles Men--California--Los Angeles Electric lines--Poles and towers Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) Los Angeles Evening Herald and Express photographs Herald-Examiner Collection photographs
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