SAG-AFTRA

Fall 2012

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Snapshot by Valerie Yaros Click here for more photos Comedian Jimmy Durante helps the American Federation of Labor fight anti-labor legislation in 1947. M Stepping Up to Fight ANTI-LABOR LEGISLATION The Los Angeles Local of the American Federation of Radio of American Federation of Labor-sponsored radio shows. But the message was deadly serious. Durante was one of several stars, along with Melvyn Douglas and Edward G. Robinson, explaining the anti-labor effects of multiple upcoming pieces of legislation, both in California and nationally — including HR3020, the Labor-Management Relations Act of 1947. Familiarly known as "Taſt-Hartley," it would revise the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 (the Wagner Act), passed during Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, decreasing the strength of unions. The goal of the AF of L radio series was to inspire the ovie, radio and recording star Jimmy "Schnozolla" Durante strikes a characteristic happy pose on June 5, 1947, as he rehearses his part in Did They Ask You?, the third in a series American public to take action — by sending letters or telegrams to their national and state legislators, and President Harry S. Truman, asking them to not support the legislation. By June 18, the White House reported that Truman had received nearly 700,000 letters and telegrams, the "heavy majority" calling for him to veto Taſt-Hartley. 44 SAG-AFTRA | Fall 2012 | SAGAFTRA.org Artists (AFRA) was the force behind the radio broadcasts. It sprang from their March 14, 1947 membership meeting which passed resolutions including this one: "Because this union- destroying attack can be defeated only by a combined offensive of all labor organizations … the board of the Los Angeles Local of AFRA [is] instructed by this meeting to call within one week a meeting of the representatives of the Radio Writers Guild, the Radio Directors Guild, NABET, IBEW, Screen Actors Guild, Screen Writers Guild, American Federation of Musicians and other guilds and unions in the entertainment industry to map out a united campaign of action against the repressive legislation which threatens our very existence." Truman vetoed Taſt-Hartley on June 20, 1947, declaring "The became law. Among its provisions, besides outlawing closed shop and sympathy strikes, was a requirement that non-union people could work with union protections for up to 30 days before having to join. bill is deliberately designed to weaken labor unions." Labor cheered! Three days later, Congress overrode his veto and Taſt-Hartley

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