The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

July 1955 CINE TECHNICIAN GENERAL COUNCIL IN SESSION JUNE MEETING DECISIONS TRADES UNION CONGRESS : A.C.T. will nominate George Elvin for the General Council of the T.U.C. The meeting also agreed to table the following motions for Congress : " 1. This Congress affirms its complete opposition to all forms of racial discrimination in whatever country it manifests itself. " 2. The General Council shall not assist or encourage the claims of a Trade Union or other body operating as such which ia not affiliated to Congress unless it has first obtained the agreement of the majority of the affiliated Unions in the appropriate occupational group or groups of Congress." LABOUR PARTY : In addition to nominating George Elvin for the Executive of the Labour Party, the meeting agreed to nominate Aneurin Bevan as Treasurer. The following resolution will be tabled for the Labour Party annual meeting : " This Annual Conference pledges its firm opposition to any moves the Government may make to weaken the powers of the Trade Unions, particularly the right to strike." NEW ENTRANTS COMMITTEE reported on a proposal to set up a Central Selection Committee with representatives of each Section to investigate all applications from people desiring to join the film industry as technicians; this was referred to the Executive for immediate action. MEETING WITH TV PROGRAMME CONTRACTORS : The Executive had considered a list of the duties of the grades employed on live TV together with a previous list detailing the scope of the various trade unions within TV; thanks were given to Martin McLean who had been most helpful in preparing the first list. With reference to the desire of the TV Programme Contractors to receive a list of grades organised by A.C.T. , it was agreed to forward a list as detailed in the B.F.P.A. and Laboratory Agree ments together with necessary live grades, making clear that the list was not meant to be exhaustive and that A.C.T. maintained its right to negotiate for all its members employed in television. A letter was received from the Programme Contractors' Association inviting A.C.T. to send representatives to a meeting to discuss the establishment of negotiating machinery, it being stated that a similar invitation had "been sent to the B.B.C. Staff Association, E. T. U., N. A. T. K. E., and N.U.G.M.W. After very careful consideration it was agreed to reply requesting a postponement of this meeting until conclusion of the talks with A.C.T. In the event of a postponement not being agreed to, it was decided that A.C.T. would not be represented at the meeting. TRADE UNION LABEL: N.A.T.K.E. was not prepared to discuss this with the Film Industry Employees' Council, but said it was open for one Executive to take up with the Executive of another Union any matters it thought necessary to discuss. The General Council agreed to make separate representations to all the film unions on this matter. The B.F.P.A. confirmed its opposition to the proposal for a T.U. Label on all films, but the A.S.F.P. was willing to discuss it. ONE HUNDRED AND FOURTEEN NEW MEMBERS were accepted (18 Features, 8 Shorts, 3 Newsreels, 2 Equipment, 57 Laboratories, 16 TV). SIXTEEN FOREIGN TECHNICIANS were reported to have Labour permits to work in Britain; one of them had been opposed by A.C.T. FIFTY TWO UNEMPLOYED MEMBERS were registered with the Employment Bureau as at 1st June — a decrease of 20 on the May figure. Fifty-seven vacancies were filled by the Bureau during May, including one transfer from another Section. KIT ANY QUESTIONS? The British Soviet Friendship Society, which is preparing a pamphlet in the form of answers to questions dealing with the working of Trade Unions in the U.S.S.R., asked A.C.T. whether the Executive had any questions it felt such a pamphlet should answer. The General Council agreed to circularise Shops asking for questions. SHEPPERTON STUDIOS' MEMBERS had " blacked " work involving Electronic Cameras, because there had been no consultation with A.C.T. on crews. Consultation had now taken place, and the details agreed were endorsed. TECHNICAL COMMITTEE reported lack of response to recommendation that Sections and Branches should elect a member to serve on the Committee. Contrary to the Committee's view, the General Council decided the Technical Committee should continue to function. A circular would be sent out emphasising the importance to members of the new technical developments in films and TV, and the Executive would meet the Secretary of the Technical Committee every three months to assist the Committee's work. DUBBED FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILMS : Kenneth Gordon, Teresa Bolland and the General Secretary had represented A.C.T. at a meeting with the B.F.P.A. to discuss our policy. After discussing Italian requests for A.C.T. to relax its ban, the A.C.T. representatives agreed that, if the matter was to be considered further, we should wish to have : (1) Satisfactory assurances from Italian and British Producers and all concerned (Turn to page 108) CAMERA HIRE NEWMAN-SINCLAIR, Model 'N' (Mirror Shutter) COOKE LENSES, PLUS 24 mm. ANGENIEUX RETROFOCUS f2-2 KINGSTON TRIPOD Also available, fully modified for CINEMASCOPE S. W. SAMUELSON FINchley 15 95