Film and TV Technician (1957)

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May 1958 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 273 Humphries during that trying time and also to Frank Fuller, Les Pryor, Sid Bremson, Charlie Wheeler and lastly, but not least, to George Elvin, who led the above committee throughout the whole of the negotiations. This victory was followed by some years of peaceful negotiation. On December 4th, 1946, an agreement was signed which established for all laboratory clerical workers a 40-hour week together with wage increases and recognised conditions of employment. On December 7th, 1948, Arbitration Award No. 758 was incorporated in an agreement with the employers whose association had now changed its name to the Film Laboratory Association. A similar agreement was also signed with Technicolor. These agreements gave further wage increases and also a 5-day, 44-hour week to laboratory technical workers. The Laboratories continued to prosper but cost of living rose substantially. A further wage increase of 18/ was therefore negotiated and incorporated in new agreements dated July 20th, 1951. The Great Lookout In October, 1953, A.C.T. asked for a revision of the existing agreements which included a demand for a 30/ wage increase. The Film Laboratory Association rejected the application, refused to negotiate and pressed that the matter be referred to arbitration. A mass meeting of laboratory workers held on Sunday, January 24th, 1954, decided to impose an overtime ban and work to rule. There followed a strike of 29 members in the developing department of Technicolor Laboratories on the threat of the management to alter shifts during the period of working to rule. The management retaliated by locking out a further 134 members. A resolution from a mass meeting of 1,200 Technicolor members led to a meeting with the management at which the company withdrew the notices and the local dispute ended on February 19th, 1954. But the F.L.A. still refused to negotiate. In effect, they wanted A.C.T. to agree that the dispute be referred to arbitration as an alternative to negotiation. We could never have accepted such a proposal. So working to rule continued and was tightened up to the extent that all laboratory members broke for lunch together and the principle of one man one job and one man one machine was strictly enforced. On March 9th, 1945, the F.L.A. advised A.C.T. that as from March 12th, one week's notice would be given to all laboratory employees, other than those required for care and maintenance work, unless the Union withdrew the overtime ban and instructions to work to rule. Most Eventful Days A mass meeting of 1,900 members was held on Sunday, March 14th, at the Gaumont Hammersmith, at which a resolution condemning the employers for refusing to negotiate and threatening a lockout, was overwhelmingly carried, together with a pledge of full support until a just settlement of the Union claims had been met. The lockout took effect as threatened and the maintenance engineers came out on strike in sympathy with their locked out fellow members. The whole machinery of the Union was then put in gear to win the fight. The stoppage lasted just twelve days, which were probably the most eventful twelve days in our history. Committees were set up at all laboratories and pickets were laid on. Marches were organised, including one to the Waldorf which paraded outside the hotel during a Technicolor shareholders' meeting. Members too numerous to mention by name, who had always remained in the background, came forward and took leading roles in the conduct of the dispute. There was a comradeship that had to be seen to be believed. In an effort to bring further pressure on the Union, the British Film Producers' Association gave support to the F.L.A. and threatened to close all film studios. The Ministry of Labour intervened and after meetings with both sides, set up a committee of investigation into the dispute and requested that all forms of pressure be lifted: that is the lockout, strike, overtime ban and work-to-rule. Both sides were urged to agree to a resumption of work without victimisation. The F.L.A. agreed to reinstate every member without victimisation and a mass meeting of laboratory members accepted the proposals in the belief that such a move would lead to a resumption of negotiations. The pressure from both sides was called off, the members returned to work and as anticipated discussions recom menced. After four joint meetings, several of the claims originally put forward were settled, i.e., 30/ of the cost of living bonus was consolidated in the basic wages, a third week's holiday after ten years' service was agreed, a meal allowance for transport drivers approved and the Union's claim for a wage increase and a 40-hour week was referred to arbitration with two arbitrators, one nominated by each party, the parties to accept any award made. The award of the arbitrators on the two remaining points brought the dispute to a victorious conclusion. An average wage increase of 9/ per week was awarded. The hours at Technicolor Laboratories were reduced from 45 to 44 without loss of earnings and the arbitrators recommended that both sides consider ways and means further to reduce the normal working hours over a period without loss of output. A technical sub-committee was also established, which in due course approved rates for a number of new grades including that of Production Contact man. Towards the end of 1956 a further wage increase of 11/ payable to all laboratory employees was negotiated. Provision was also made for payment for the full cost of living bonus at 18 years of age. At the moment of writing, another wage claim with certain amendments to the agreement, including the 40-hour week, is under consideration. We Can Be Proud Looking back over the history of our Laboratory Branch, we see in miniature the story of the Trade Union Movement; the struggle for recognition, followed by established wages and conditions, of rising profits and rising prices with the workers fighting to maintain their standards of living and, wherever possible, to improve that standard. It is a struggle that will go on far into the future with the Trade Union Movement ever watchful to see that some of the benefits arising from changing techniques and automation shall come the way of the men and women on the job. A.C.T.T. can be justly proud of its Laboratory members who, in turn, are proud to be associated with fellow members in other sections of the film industry who stood by them and supported them in time of stress. It is indeed a magnificent history!