The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

156 CINE TECHNICIAN General Council in Session October 1955 ITV NEGOTIATIONS Full reports were presented on the negotiations that led to interim agreements to cover Independent Newsreel Association, the processing of TV news material, and the Programme Contractors' work. If no satisfaction had been reached with the latter, the Executive gave authority for a special meeting of members employed on commercial TV the day before transmission started, at which they would be recommended to stop work at once. However, successful negotiations were concluded with the Associated Broadcasting, Associated Rediffusion and Granada TV Network, under which A.C.T. members would, pending negotiation of a final agreement, be employed under terms not less favourable than the B.F.P.A. Agreement. A similar settlement was reached with Independent Television News. Pending negotiation of a separate agreement, staff would be employed under terms not less favourable than the N.R.A. agreement. At the request of I.T.N., A.C.T. reached agreement with Kay Labs, as a result of which the I.T.N, will get facilities no less favourable than those available to the B.B.C., but soon afterwards Kay's wrote that -the settlement was impracticable, as the necessary number of staff was not procurable. The Executive protested to Kay's at their change of attitude, stressed that the original settlement was best, and insisted that any alternative arrangements must be on a rota basis and temporary, with a stipulated final date; the company must recruit necessary staff and revert to the original scheme as soon as possible. Following a special meeting of the Laboratory Committee, it was decided to aerree to fresh proposals, which must be reviewed by 31st December, 1955. FEATURE NEGOTIATION S : Authority was given to the Feature Branch to continue to press its claim with the B.F.P.A. for all technicians up to the top minimum grades to be entitled to receive overtime, a proposal which the B.F.P.A. has recently rejected. Authority was also given to make a claim for a salary increase of 7i per cent for all technicians up to the top minimum grades, and for taking the appropriate industrial action, if necessary, after a full meeting of the Feature Branch. SCENIC ARTISTS: A member, mainly employed as a Matte Artist by a company servicing production units with trick and special effects work, was engaged by the local Art Director to paint some scenic backings. The Scenic Artists' Section registered strong objection to an A.C.T. member not in membership of their Section doing such work. The member in question held that he was justified in undertaking the work offered to him as Scenic Artists, Art Directors and Sketch Artists were often called upon, in addition to their normal job, to produce matte paintines, and the recoenised Matte Artists in A.C.T. had never objected to such an arrangement. After a full discussion, with the President in the chair, it was unanimously agreed that under Rule the Section's views could not be accepted, unless, of course, there were unemployed Scenic Artists available or unless their existing employment was endangered, in which cases the Council endorsed the Section's attitude; further, a meeting would be called between the Section and Matte Artists to thrash out the whole problem. • GIFT TO NEW T.U.C. BUILDING: Subject to the approval of the renters, A.C.T. would donate a print of A.C.T. Films' The Final Test, with a suitably worded title, the film to be available for showin? to Trade Unions hiring the building for social purposes. FILM LABORATORY ASSOCIATION: The terms of an agreement between A.C.T. and the F.L.A. covering certain new grades employed in black-and-white labs which would come into operation on Monday, 12th September, 1955, were endorsed. The F.L.A. was not prepared to accept the A.S.F.P. Disputes Clause, and suggested an alternative. This was rejected, and the meeting reiterated that the new clause must be in line with the Disputes Clause in the A.S.F.P. Agreement. TRADE UNION LABEL: It was agreed to accede with pleasure to the request from Pearl and Dean Productions that they insert an A.C.T. Trade Union Label on the cartoon film Man of Action, which they are producing for the American market. • TWELVE AMERICAN TECHNICIANS were reported to be working in British Studios, all except one with A.C.T.'s permission. It was agreed to oppose a permit for Mr. F. R. Selch, an American who, as a TV Producer for J. Walter Thompson, was being offered a salary of only half the A.C.T. rate and less than half the Union rate in America. It was agreed to reiterate to the Ministry of Labour that A.C.T. policy in TV should be as in films. • ORGANISATION OF A.C.T. BUSINESS: The Finance and General Purposes Committee made recommendations for improving the efficiency of A.C.T., while fully maintaining the democratic manner in which the Union transacts its affairs. The Council agreed that Executive agendas should in future be prepared so that no item appeared twice in a month, other than in an extreme emergency, and that the Senior Organiser was responsible for presenting all organisation items to the Executive; the Employers' Associations, Government Departments and others would be informed that items of business would only be considered monthly, and they should plan accordingly. Both General Council and Executive would continue their present policy of loose operation of Standing Orders, but with an annual reminder of the need for the efficient conduct of business. As a result of these and other proposals, there would be more opportunity for discussions on general policy. The recommendations were approved.