The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

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December 1956 CINE TECHNICIAN 187 Lab Topics TRIBUTE TO BERT CRAIK BY the time this issue of the journal reaches you the results of our F.L.A. negotiations will be known to all members, but for the benefit of any members from the Laboratories who were not able to attend the meeting at Hammersmith on December 9, I would like to tell them how well Bert Craik, our Acting General Secretary, worked and looked after the interests of everybody in the absence of George Elvin during these negotiations. I am sure that George, when he hears the full story, will be very quick to congratulate Bert. As Trade Union members we are extremely fortunate in having in both George and Bert, as our senior officials, two sincere and able brothers who while being very efficient at their jobs are completely divorced from personal power-seeking ambitions, an all too rare quality in the world today. George Elvin, I am happy to say, is reported to be making progress in the right direction, and I know everybody in the section and indeed in the whole union will be pleased to hear this news. George Wiseman Retires Frank Fuller writes: At Pathe Laboratory, Wardour Street, we feel the occasion of the retirement of George Wiseman, one of the longest serving Laboratory Workers in the industry, should not pass without comment. ' Shorty', as George is known to his friends and col leagues, joined Pathe Freres Cinema Ltd., a fore ' sh«rty ' runner of the present Company, way back in 1914. A year later George joined the army, was sent to France where he saw service in the King's Royal Rifles — returning to civvy street after World War I he returned to Pathe in 1920 and has put in unbroken service ever since. For some years he was on the ' wet ' side working in developing, washing, drum rooms, etc. Subsequently, going over to printing, he operated a multilith printer over a number of years. He was an efficient worker, seldom if ever late, an impressive record indeed. He was an early member of A.C.T.T., holding ticket No. 1571, By A If Cooper joining when members were needed and the going was not so good. George was popular in the lab, being fond of social activities. He reminds me that he holds three medals won as a member of the Pathe darts team, winning the A.C.T.T. Shield three years in succession. A collection was made at Wardour Street and Elstree, the Management chipping in. The presentation of a clock and ten guineas was made in Manager C. J. Phillips' office on Friday, November 16. A few of the older members being present, Mr. W. A. Fielder, General Manager, looked in, and although unable to be present, I understand glasses were raised, suitably filled, to ' George '. It is pleasing to record that A.B. Pathe are making George an allowance, and judging by the broad smile when I talked to him, it is really something worth having. Good Luck, ' Shorty '. We all wish you a long and happy retirement. Kodak Bill Whittemore, of Humphries, tells me that his shop are still perturbed about the Kodak situation and are determined that A.C.T.T. shall, with the help of all members, finally bring this nonrecognition by the management to an end, indeed at their last meeting the following resolution was passed: " That this 100r/r A.C.T.T. membership at Humphries Laboratories deplore the continued refusal of Kodak Ltd. to recognise A.C.T.T. and the Trade Union Movement, and we give our full support to the A.C.T.T. members at Kodak in their efforts to achieve recognition." Charlie Gunnell Steve Cox, now in Shorts, met recently an old stalwart of the Labs, Charlie Gunnell. Charlie and Steve were school pals before becoming Lab members of A.C.T.T. Charlie worked at Lime Grove Labs, originally G.B., and later taken over by Rank and renamed G.F.D., and at one period of time was deputy shop steward to Jack Gearing and Lab representative on the General Council and a member of the Laboratories Negotiating Committee. He had worked in the Labs for 16 years when G.F.D. closed down and was then offered a job at Denlabs, but turned it down, deciding to go into french polishing as a means to earning a living with a small firm in Acton, namely, White Ibbottsons. This was in 1950, and within the last two years this company has been absorbed into the Rank (Bush Radio) organisation. Here again he was promised, in his own words, " The Earth ", but on this occasion it turned out to be a painter's job at less money than he was then getting. J.A.R. for P.M.G. ? At this stage of his career he decided to call it a day. He said, " the J. Arthur Rank organisation has twice been responsible for me losing my job, although in completely different fields of employment. I must get a job with no possibility of Rank buying the firm up." As a result, for the last few weeks Charlie has been pounding a postman's beat. In view of current events and quick changes in high places, he is now beginning to wonder whether or not J. Arthur Rank may one day become the Postmaster-General !