The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

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26 THE CINE-TECHNICI A X March— April, 1943 British Film Producers Association had appeared on the scene. They took A.C.T. to arbitration on the local overtime agreements. The Tribunal upheld the principle of overtime payments to film 10. technicians, and with the Court's award as the corner-stone of an Agreement we set out along the path of negotiation once more. The B.F.P.A. were better stayers than their predecessors, and a sincere effort was made to finalise the negotiations. The going was hard, and frequently breakdowns were only narrowly averted, but both sides were determined to finalise negotiations and eventually this was done. After lengthy meetings with our studio members the A.C.T. General Council 11. was authorised to conclude and sign the Agreement. This was done on March 8th and A.C.T. 's signatories were the members of its Negotiating Committee: Sidney Cole, Ralph Bond, Charlie 12. Wheeler and myself. The Agreement runs into 35 clauses, together with wage schedules and a supplementary agreement on trainees. I cannot do full justice to it here. Copies have been printed and sent to studios for distribution to every member. If' anybody affected has not received a copy, one can be obtained from Head Office. In cases of doubt and difficulty the Agreement itself must be consulted. All I have space to do is to summarise its principal provisions : — < 1. The Agreement is retrospective to January 4th, 1943, and operates for at least two years. 2. Where individuals' existing rates are better 13. than those in the Agreement they shall be continued. 3. Disputes shall be settled by arbitration, the machinery for which is outlined. 4. There shall be no stoppages of work until the arbitration machinery has been exhausted. 5. Employers shall give preferential consideration to A.C.T. members in the engagement of staff. 6. After payment of expenses necessarily incurred and reimbursement to employer of salary paid during periods of inactivity technicians shall receive 50% of any profit made 14. through the sub-letting of their services. 7. Payment to promotees, after probationary 15. period of one week, of minimum rate for the job. During that week no wage increase except for temporary promotees, who receive 50% of difference between their salary and 16. minimum rate of higher grade job. 8. No reduction in rate during performance of 17. temporary lower grade job. 9. Insurance for £5,000 of employees earning £10 per week and over (£3,000 for those up 18. to £10) engaged on aerial or other dangerous work. The proceeds of such insurance shall be deposited with the B.F.P.A. against proof of evidence. All reasonable safety and precaution measures must be taken by the employer. In addition to wage rates, employees receive a Cost of Living Bonus at the increased rate of 22/6d. a week for employees over 21 years of age and earning up to £17 : 10 : 0 per week. For those under 21 years of age the rate is 15/ a week. The rate of bonus is adjusted monthly at the rate of 6d. a point (4d. for those under 21 years of age) rise or fall above or below 200 in the published Cost of Living Index Figure. One day's holiday with pay per annum for each completed month's service. Free-lance employees are credited through A.C.T. with their holiday pay. Payment of full salary (without deduction of sum equivalent to National Health Insurance) while away sick at rate in each calendar year of : (a) Up to one week at full pay and one week at half pay for emploj'ees with between three and six months' service : (b) Up to two weeks at full pay and two weeks at half pay for employees with between six and twelve months' service ; (c) Up to four weeks at full pay and four weeks at half pay for employees with over twelve months' service. 47-hour normal working week with overtime payments thereafter at time-and-a-half for employees whose salary does not exceed £10 per week. A 54-hour normal week and overtime thereafter at straight-time for employees whose salary is over £10 and does not exceed £15 per week. Double time for both classes in respect of work on Sundays, Bank and Public Holidays. Technicians earning over £15 per week receive no payment for overtime but are entitled to a day off for each Sunday, Bank or Public Holiday worked, failing which they shall be paid an extra day's salary. Viewing of rushes (for -those affected) is in the company's time. Meal break after every five hours work, except if work continues after supper break. when meal break shall be after every four hours work. Minimum break of ten hours between completion of call and re-call. Employer to provide transport when, by reason of early or late work, ordinary transport is not available. The employer pays all location expenses and also expenses necessarily incurred when working at a hired studio. Travelling time on location shall be paid to all technicians