The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

December 1956 CINE TECHNICIAN is:; Organiser's Page A REASONABLE YEAR TO " review the events of the past year " is a hackneyed phrase, but I think it is fair comment that the past year has been a reasonable one for our members in terms of employment. Unfortunately, owing to Suez, unemployment is becoming heavy and once more we find " Scrooge " companies are taking advantage of any possible excuse to declare redundancies just before the Christmas season. To those technicians on whom the axe has fallen we wish a much more prosperous 1957 and to those who are still in work a very happy Christmas and New Year. I trust that they will think of their unemployed colleagues especially in times of overtime calls. It may be a thought that while there * is unemployment in any particular grade overtime is not worked. TV Members During the last month visits have been paid to our TV members in Manchester and Birmingham. Desmond Davis went along with the Organiser to these branches and his talks and influence in this field were very helpful to recruitment. (Further details of these visits will be found in the General Council report on page 188.1 Our TV members are very patient regarding their own Agreement but a very strong warning should be issued to the Programme Contractors that unless we can agree very quickly our members in this field will find another means of expression against the delaying tactics of the Programme Contractors' Association. It is all very well for the contractors to claim that they have to put out a public service, but that is no excuse for exploitation and while technicians in this field appear to accept the responsibilities, they do want, and are indeed entitled to, some form of trade union agreement to cover their hours and conditions. George Elviii The General Secretary writes that he is progressing very favourably and would like to thank, through this column, everyone for their good wishes for his speedy recovery which have been a very great help to him in keeping up his morale. Meanwhile, in wishing By MI DD Y members a Happy Christmas and a much more prosperous New Year, he expresses a hope that most of us will have a much less sober Christmas than he will under his present circumstances. PETROL RATIONING A.C.T.T. met representatives of the Ministry of Fuel and Power to discuss the position of those members not attached permanently to a studio. Arising from this, agreement has been reached that members of this Trade Union not attached to studios will be treated as self-employed and must apply to the Post Office for Form P.R.I, complete it and return it to the address on the form, with a covering letter to the effect that the applicant is a member of A.C.T.T. By the time these notes are being read, meetings will have been called to nominate your officers and Executive for the forthcoming year. It is essential that meetings held for such purpose should be well attended. We claim to be, and indeed are, the most democratic trade union in this country, and a position can be reached where, through lack of interest, such democracy can be lost. It is not much good grumbling after the event if you haven't taken the bother to attend these meetings which, after all, elect your governing body for the next twelve months. If you want a New Year resolution make one to the effect that you will be more active in your sectional branches and not leave the work to the two or three stalwarts who are prepared to shoulder the section's business and keep the ball rolling. Deaths on Location During the past year, unfortunately, some of our members have been killed on location. We have just heard of the death of Johnny Kerrison, Second Assistant Director on the Horizon location in Ceylon. Johnny was not with us long but he became a very popular figure and we extend to his widow and family our sincere sympathy in their bereavement. Watch Your Insurance These unfortunate accidents bring out the value of the insurance clauses which we have negotiated for members and also the importance of making doubly sure, before proceeding on location, that insurances are in order so that, should accidents happen, adequate coverage is given and trouble is not caused to those who may be bereaved. A.C.T.T. Head Office is always at members' disposal to discuss insurance proposals. Our firm instruction is that you should not proceed on location unless the company employing you produces evidence of insurance coverage and, further, before you go on location, you should appoint an executor in this country to look after your interests. One final word: on behalf of the Head Office officials I should like to thank our Shop Stewards and Collectors for the work they have put in over this last twelve months and to thank the readers of this journal for their support and ask them each to get at least one extra reader for the ensuing twelve months.