Here’s my newest print ! It’s giving recognition to the very big union of the workers that were behind the scenes of the movie industry back in the 1930’s . International Alliance Local 37 bravely challenged the corruption and mafia influence in their union. The workers paid a high price in retaliation that dispersed the membership into 5 separated units after that. Message me for sale info . They are Lino cut carved and then 5 color hand screen prints - signed and editioned . Solidarity!

Dutch Merrick says :

“Hollywood Labor history here!

When Motion Picture Mechanics Local 52 was formed in NY, Local 37 was formed in Hollywood. In 1924 & '25 respectively. LA was a mixed local, just like them.

The venerable Local 37 grew to be the biggest IA Local anywhere fought back against the mob in charge back East. The response was for the IA bosses to tear up the charter of their largest Local, breaking it up into 4 smaller Locals, 44, 80, 727 and 728.

These are hand carved old school block-prints by artist and union sister, Stephanie Weiner to honor our Local 37 history and to let those 7,000 Local 37 members know they are remembered! 𝗜 𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗹!

“ IATSE Local 37 Hollywood Motion picture Machine Operators was carved from Hollywood IA Local 33 in 1925 to fill the growing demand for craftspeople in the blossoming motion picture industry. When mobsters from Chicago took over the IA in 1934, There was an effort to take over the largest locals in the country by the IATSE President, George E. Browne. The IA imposed a "2% assessment" on all members' pay. Totalling 2 million bucks that went into the "General Fund" and was never accounted for, to this day.

Local 37 members fought back and started a group called the "White Rats", a group of Progressive film workers demanding local autonomy for the largest Local in the country (37) with 7,000-12,000 members in 1939.

The White Rats and a group called "The Autonomists" sued the IA and President Browne for a million dollars to regain local control (autonomy). Browne responded by revoking the charter of Local 37 and forming 5 new locals, to divide the ranks and weaken their ability to fight back. Those locals included Local 44 Property Craftsmen, Local 80 Studio Grips, Local 728 Set Lighting Technicians and Local 727 Studio Craft Service & laborers (The latter was a failed attempt to take over the jurisdiction of Laborers International Union local 724 Hollywood)

IATSE Local 37, union hall was located at 6476 Santa Monica Blvd at Wilcox. From the roots of early LA theater in 1896 to the golden age of motion pictures into "talkies" and destroyed in 1939.

IA Local 37 rest in peace. You are where organized Hollywood Labor truly began.”