Film and TV Technician (1957)

March 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 45 General Council (continued) A series of full Shop meetings had been held, with the A.E.U. in the main accepting the Management's conditions. When the total redundancies were announced they involved some 30 workers, only two of whom were A.C.T.T. members. These members have subsequently found other jobs but at less pay. A.C.T.T. members are expecting further redundancies and are not happy at the way things have gone. The A.C.T.T. committee is meeting the joint works committee to discuss future redundancies and the policy that should be pursued. This brief report does not do full justice to the efforts of Bro. Langdon, who has had to fight under the most difficult conditions and has made extraordinary efforts to help non-members affected by the redundancy. Arising out of this report the Executive Committee agreed that with a view to working out a policy for the future the Organiser should raise the matter with the A.E.U. Area Organiser. NATIONAL SCREEN SERVICE. A further approach was made to this company pressing for the full implementation of the Laboratory Agreement, implying also that we may have no alternative but to take the matter to arbitration if the matter could not be settled amicably. The company have written to say that if they are compelled to pay the full increases they would have only one alternative, obviously hinting that it would mean redundancy. The offer they have made in writing is an increase of 5/6d. per week to each employee and a change in the cost of living bonus to l/6d. per point from the week commencing 31st December, 1956. The Executive Committee agreed that Bessie Bond should press the case and placed on record their full support to the members. THE AFRICAN BUREAU. After considering the following declaration of this Bureau submitted by Anthony Perry, the Executive recommended A.C.T.T. associate itself with it : " We, the undersigned . drawn from the field of art and sport, are dismayed by the danger that is arising in Africa from the theory and practice of apartheid. We believe that the theory is inhuman, and that the practice restricts arbitrarily, even prohibits, the enjoyment and the use of human talent, " Sport and the arts are concerned with those things mankind has in common. Today, when men increasingly hunger for freedom and unity, we believe that we have a special responsibility to cherish and advance the liberties which have been so hardly won through the centuries. " To impose any form of discrimination on grounds of race, colour or religion is contrary to all we believe and work for. We are determined nowhere to condone it, but to oppose it by every means in our power; and we invite anyone who shares our view to join us in this declaration." PARAMOUNT & NEWSREEL TRUST: The Acting General Secretary had written to Paramount, as instructed by the General Council earlier in February, and had received a reply indicating that the company was not prepared to alter its original attitude that it would not negotiate with A.C.T.T. over compensation for former Paramount News employees. Bert Craik was instructed by the Executive to reiterate that we have a duty to protect the interests of our members; he had also said that if we did not get satisfaction by return of post we would report the matter as a dispute to the Ministry of Labour and take steps to have the matter raised in the House of Commons. It was reported to the meeting that members with long service had been given compensation at the rate of a week's pay for every year with Paramount News, and, in view of all the circumstances, this was regarded as inadequate. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENT SOUND TECHNICIAN required by KENYA GOVT. INFORMATION DEPT. on probation for pensionable establishment. Normal tour 36/45 months. Salary scale (including Inducement Pay) £1,056 rising to £1,341 a year. Commencing salary according to qualifications and experience. Free passages. Liberal leave on full salary. Candidates should have had at least 5 years' experience of sound recording in all stages of film production, the installation and maintenance of electronic equipment and a thorough knowledge of magnetic recording media and methods. They must also have had experience of 16mm. production with magnetic tracks, synchromous recording, dubbing and transfer. Write to the Crown Agents, 4 Millbank, London, S.W.I. State age, name in block letters, full qualifications and experience and quote M3B/43956/CY. The Council also had before it the announcement of the formation of the British Commonwealth International Newsfilm Agency Trust. After discussion it was agreed that, failing satisfaction from Paramount, the matter be referred to the Ministry of Labour, and that powers be given to the Executive to take further action if required. It was further agreed to seek a meeting with the Newsreel Association and to approach the Trust immediately to discuss their work and the question of the employment of our members. APPOINTMENT VACANT Office junior with typing experience required for Records Department at A.C.T.T. Head Office. Applicants should phone Office Manager at Gerrard 8506 for interview. WANTED Composer wishes to break the " Chicken or the Egg " sequence — has written score documentary film and signature tune for industrial series. Now wishes more (much more!) film work. Capable anything from "ferronconcrete" to "neo-Stravinsky". Write BOX 201, Film & TV Technician, 5-6 Red Lion Square, London, W.C.I. Camera Hire (1) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Mirror Shutter. All Cooke Lenses including Series 2., 25mm., f. 1.7. SINGLE FRAME EXPOSURE and Electric Motor Drive. (Available fully adapted for CINEMASCOPE if required.) (2) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Mirror Shutter. Cooke Lenses and 24mm. Angineux Retrofocus. (3) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Model G. All Cooke Lenses. SINGLE FRAME EXPOSURE and Electric Motor Drive if required. Kingston Tubular and Vinten Light Gyro Tripods. LOCATION CAMERA DOLLYS Metal construction, pneumatic tyres, dropdown jacks, lightweight tracks, etc. S. W. SAMUELSON FINchley I 595