Film and TV Technician (1957)

May 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 79 Organiser took up in London the question of the hours worked by Production Assistants. At a second meeting, the company accepted that excessive hours had been worked and gave an assurance that an instruction had been given that all Production Assistants must work a five-day, 44-hour week. Negotiations are still in progress to raise the salaries of several lower-paid Production Assistants. GRANADA TELEVISION. Paddy Leech attended a Committee meeting at this Manchester shop, where we have an excellent organisation. Recent negotiations at shop level, without prejudice to the National Agreement, have resulted in increases of from £50 to as much as £250 a year for numerous grades. Our Steward, Gavin Waddell, was successful in stopping a process by which A. B.C. Television, undercrewed, made up its complement of staff by using Granada personnel (A. B.C. Television are weekend, Granada weekday contractors). This has been placed on a proper consultative level, with " emergency " as the criterion of such hiring. A.R.T.V. Brother Shine, our A.R.T.V. Shop Steward, with the Organiser present, has had a series of meetings with the Management in recent months. These have led to increased staff being taken on from those declared redundant as 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. 18mm. COOKE RETROFOCUS f 1.7. for Mirror Shutter and Model 'G' Cameras. LOCATION CAMERA DOLLYS Metal construction, pneumatic tyres, dropdown jacks, lightweight tracks, etc. S. W. SAMUELSON FINchley 1595 an interim measure with a further review to take place shortly. Important modifications have been made in a Management qualification pay scheme for certain grades. Increases in pay for telecine operators, with ex-gratia payments in lieu of back pay have been won. A.T.V. We are making organisational progress here despite some apparent hostility from heads of departments and membership is slowly being built up. A very successful meeting was held at the Foley Street Studio and a considerable increase in membership can reasonably be expected. The Organiser is taking up with the Management a clause in some contracts restricting membership to the Association of Broadcasting Staffs. TV DRAFT AGREEMENT. Copies of the TV Draft Agreement have now been sent to the Programme Contractors with a letter from the Acting General Secretary seeking an early meeting. As only an acknowledgment had been received from the Contractors the General Council unanimously agreed to press for a meeting. RANK SCREEN SERVICES— PINEWOOD. Notification had been received from this Company that fifteen of our members would not be with the firm after May 3rd. Thirteen were at Pinewood, and two at Hill Street. Fred Tonge visited the Studios to meet the members who were available and phoned Hill Street. The Studio Manager stated that he hoped the majority would be found jobs in some other part of the Rank Organisation but could give no definite promise on this. Members would be paid to May 3rd but were free to depart earlier. Holiday credits would be paid after May 3rd. Fred Tonge reported to the Council that all except five members had now found other work. LABORATORIES AGREEMENT. The Laboratories Committee had pressed for up-to-date printed copies of the Agreement to be made available, and it was agreed that Bert Craik, the Acting General Secretary, should get in touch with the Film Laboratory Association and get the Agreement printed as a matter of urgency. THE CROWN THEATRE Lessees FILM PRODUCTION SERVICES (Surrey) LTD. Provides Complete Studio Projection Service at Any Time to Suit Your Requirements DOUBLE HEAD PROJECTION MIXING PANELS FOR TRACKS also SUB-STANDARD PROJECTION SEATING FOR 70 PERSONS SOUND SYSTEM EDITING ROOMS FOR HIRE 86 WARDOUR ST., LONDON, W.l Tel: GERrard 5223 Editing Rooms GERrard 9309