The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

132 CINE TECHNICIAN September 1955 Lab Topics — Edited by — Alf Cooper Many members have been worried about the large amount of time which has slipped by since A.C.T. and F.L.A. started to discuss new grades in both Blackand-White and Colour labs. Quite a number of the colour grades have been finalised and it is fair to say that the joint negotiating committee have made a lot of progress with the outstanding Blackand-White grades. It is impossible to report fully in this article all that has taken place, owing to the fact that the committee as yet, have not been able to report back to the Executive Committee, but at least I can say that we have quite a number of grades and rates which we are prepared to recommend the Executive to endorse. It is very nice to hear from our Technicolor representatives on the General Council, reports stating that quite a number of the people who got themselves in bad standing with A.C.T. both during the Lab dispute and in the months that followed are beginning to realise that perhaps their outlook at that time was the wrong outlook and are coming back into the fold. As Chairman of both the Lab Section and the Technicolor Shop I welcome this fact. Some of the finest craftsmen in the world today made some awful blunders when first they started to use the tools of their craft. All this means that I think some of these people may well turn out to be very good and useful members of the A.C.T. in the future. I still believe that the man who never made a mistake never made anything, and in the minds of most A.C.T. members these folk made a mistake. Back again in the Union, they will be better able to maintain and indeed improve the conditions in this industry of ours. These members have, of course, returned, in accordance with the terms decided by the General Council. If any of the people referred to in this column read this and have not yet decided to follow the G.C. instructions, may I take this opportunity of inviting them to meet me personally and talk quietly about the whole matter. Pathe Labs After twenty-six-and-a-half years with Associated British Pathe, Ronnie Spillane left on August 26th to join the B.B.C. Television Service. We all wish him every success in his new venture. Ronnie joined the firm as a liftboy on 14th January, 1929, and except for his war service, during which he had a very tough time as a prisoner of war in Japan, he has been with the company continuously. His first seven years were spent in the Pictorial and News Departments, and since then he has been in the Laboratory. When the Wardour Street Laboratory reopened in 1951, having been modernised throughout, he was made Chargehand of the Negative Room and in that capacity has done excellent work for the firm, who will certainly miss him. Many readers will know him for the good work he has done for the Union as a former member of the Executive and as a member of the Social Committee. He has always been ready to render assistance in any A.C.T. cause. While with us he served almost continuously on the A.C.T. committee and gave very valuable service particularly in the offices of Secretary and of Deputy Shop Steward. For a time he took over the responsibilities of Shop Steward and filled the post very efficiently until, for health reasons, he decided to curtail his Union activities. As a parting gesture the Branch presented Ronnie with an ornamental cigarette lighter. Monica Toye reports from Denham The Sports and Social Club have been very active. They are running coaches to the White City for the AAA. Floodlight International Meeting on 21st September. They are also hoping to run coaches to West End shows during this coming winter. The Football Club has commenced its first season in the first division of the Uxbridge League, having been promoted for its good performances last year. We are pleased to report that two of our technicians, Cecil Baker and Bill Girdlestone, were among those chosen to meet the Russian Film Delegation on behalf of A.C.T. A.C.T. VICTORY AT T.U.C. Congratulations to our delegates at the T.U.C. on their successful handling of our case on incometax relief! George Elvin moved the reference back of that section of the General Council's report dealing with the Council's action on a resolution passed last year asking them to make representations to the Chancellor of the Exchequer for tax relief on expenses incurred in travelling to and from work. He chastised the Council for having " deliberately done nothing about it ". They had, he said, " flouted the decision of Congress when specifically instructed to take action ". The reference back was seconded by S. Heath, of N.A.T.K.E., whose union seconded the original motion moved last year. It was carried. Book Review ATOMS FOR PEACE Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy — A.S.C.W., sixpence To many technicians, atomic energy means either a bomb, or, of more immediate danger, sinister boxes marked " Radio active " that must be avoided at all cost when sending rushes by rail. The Association of Scientific Workers is to be congratulated on having produced a pamphlet which should help many people to a wider understanding of atomic energy, what it is — what it does. The pamphlet gives no indication of the way, if any, in which this new power which man has possessed for ten years, can help the film industry; but reading it once, persuades one of the worth of reading it again, and perhaps again, for the wide range of information it contains. The title, Peaceful Uses of Atomic Energy, is perhaps a little misleading, as the pamphlet also gives a clear, simple, and therefore valuable, explanation of how (Continued on page 141)