The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

60 CINE TECHNICIAN April 1955 AROUND THE LABS by Alf Cooper TT is just one year since the end A of the Lab dispute, a year of great work on the part of all our Shop Stewards and Convenors in the Laboratories concerned. After an industrial fight such as took place in 1954 it is only natural that a certain amount of suspicion and feeling existed on both sides, thus the job of any Shop Steward is twofold: (1) to look after the interests of all workers within his local organisation and to guard the policy of the Union generally; (2) to build up again the very necessary respect of both sides to one another without which life can only be a long round of fights with both sides continually saying no. Judging by the bulk of reports given at the Shop Stewards' Committee meetings, our Shop Stewards and Convenors have during the past year carried out their duties very ably with the minimum of fuss and trouble on the job, and although there is a certain section of people in the world today who think that the only time any Union is doing anything is when it is in battle with Managements, I can assure you they are wrong. Our Union has a great record of improvements in this Industry, stretching over many years, which have been obtained by sound negotiation both locally and nationally. It will be with these facts in mind that members will elect their new local Officers and Committee. PATHE (Wardour St.) Our congratulations to Rex Pile, who married Miss Meryle May on Saturday, March 19th, at St. Margaret's Church, Darenth, and our best wishes to both for their future happiness. Several of his friends from the Developing Dept. went along to give moral support. Everyone, including the Management, subscribed to give the newlyweds an ironing board and linen basket. We hope Rex chose them in agreement with his bride, otherwise she might not appreciate the implied hint. Our congratulations also to Ted Turney and Pat Brophy, who recently transferred to Pathe (Elstree), on their engagement. Both are very popular members of Pathe and we all wish them well, but we shan't expect them to keep the wedding date as secret as that of the engagement. Our best wishes to Fred Smith on his retirement from the firm on March 1st after 34 years' service, many of which were spent as the Carpenter. A subscription list realised over £10 and we are pleased to learn that Pathe have substantially increased the Voluntary Pension they pay long-service employees who have retired. Our best wishes also to Dick Watson, who has left to do his training in the Forces, starting off at Catterick. We hear that Leslie Newman, who went into the Forces some time ago, is being drafted to Singapore. We would like to wish our popular Unit Treasurer Queenie Turner a speedy recovery and we hope she does not attribute her ulcers to any worry we have caused her in carrying out her duties. Pathe are continuing to cooperate with Columbia in running a combined cricket team and we are looking forward to another successful season. The bulk of the work falls on Geoff Leslie of Columbia (Secretary) and Fred Ritchie of Pathe (Captain), and we do appreciate the work they put in. Our thanks are due also to our Management for their continued support. The football team is having a moderate season, being about midway in the 4th Division of the Sutton and District League. We are fortunate in getting considerable support from George Humphries players and Harry Harmer is now our regular Captain. (continued on page 61) A T Technicolor Limited's -^* 19th Annual General Meeting, Chairman's statement showed year's profit before taxation as being £730,756, a fall on previous year's profit of £905,696. Fall in tax payments, however, brought net profit to £362,756, £28,060 higher than previous year. £225,000 was transferred to General Reserve: final dividend of 15 rr plus bonus of 2' "( brought total distribution for year of 27%, less tax, compared with total distribution of 25 cx for previous year. In course of survey of company's work over year, Chairman said: " At our last Annual General Meeting It was a great disappointment to me to report that after 17 years of good labour relations we were at that time in dispute with the Union who represented the majority of our employees. Following the agreement by the Film Laboratory Association and your Company to grant certain of the claims of the Union, the Union agreed to submit their main claim for increased wages to arbitration, which resulted in an award which I understand was fully acceptable to the Union. Our relations with the Union are now back to normal and we sincerely hope that they will continue so." Union Active nt Humphries '"PHIS year has seen a rejuvena-*• ted spirit in the Humphries Branch, writes Lewis McLeod. And a few new faces are now appearing. Our Branch A.G.M. was held two weeks after our Union's National A.G.M. Discussion at the branch was quite stimulating and showed a healthy concern for Branch and Union policy. Our shop has a promising future ahead and so we are all looking forward to the new developments, possibilities and certainly the T.U. problems that will arise out of commercial television and the new colour plant now being completed. Our branch attendance at the National A.G.M. was fair but for the size of our shop could and should have been better. However, we have been compensated by the branch electing a good working committee. The new elected committee is: Chief Steward, Bill Whittimore; Deputy Steward, Bert Highett; Chairman, William White; Secretary, Des. Bye; Treasurer. Ted Burgess; Night Steward, Lewis McLeod; Journal Reporter, Lewis McLeod. Other members are Jim Praget, Cyril Vingoe and Rex Coleman. Our committee meet every second Monday in the month at 6.30 p.m. Our General Branch Meetings are held every fourth Monday in the month. Brothers in other Labs may like to know that Humphries management have organised a series of Colour lectures. They have been quite well attended. The lecturers are from Kodak.