The Cine Technician (1939)

April-May, 1937 T H ]■; C I N K-T K (' II NIC! A N 29 What Your Association Means By RALPH BOND THE almost unanimous decision taken by the members at the Annual Conference last May to seek affiliation with the Trades Union Congress was an event of no little importance in the history of A.C.T. It means that our members are convinced that there is everything to be gained by associating with the wider Trade Union Movement. Among professional and technical workers there has occasionally been a tendency to "look down" upon the T.U.C. because of its overwhelming preponderance of manual workers, but this outlook is fast disappearing under the pressure of hard facts. Technicians can no longer afford to stand aloof as somewhat superior beings. In our own industry, co-operation in the studios between cinetechnicians, electricians, carpenters and many other grades is necessary as part of the day's work. What possible objection can there be, therefore, to extending this cooperation to the trade union field ? Through the Trades Union Congress it will be possible for all employees in our industry to co-operate in their mutual interests, without in any way interfering with the right of each separate organisation to conduct its own business in its own way. The advantage of T.U.C. association has been recognised by many other groups of professional and technical workers, teachers, doctors, health officers, insurance workers, film artists, wireless and cable telegraphists, engineering and shipbuilding draughtsmen, press telegraphists, compositors, etc., and to-day the T.U.C. has an affiliated membership of nearly 3| millions, organised in 214 unions. This is a far cry from the time — not so many years ago — when trade French Technicians' President Visits A.C.T. Monsieur Berthomieu, President of the Federation des Artisans Francais du Film, has recently directed his first British film, "Girl in a Taxi," for British Unity at Ealing. While in England he took the opportunity to call upon A.C.T. and convey through Mr. Elvin greetings to British technicians. It was interesting to receive details based upon personal experience of the workings of the new Labour regulations (40-hour week, no overtime and Sunday work, etc.) introduced through the initiative of the French Government. M. Berthomieu agreed that the new conditions were to the general benefit of studio workers, particularly from health reasons which directly resulted in improved quality, a fresh employee naturally producing better work than one hopelessly tired out through long hours and a seven-day week. There were, of course, occasions when these stringent conditions hampered creative work, but there is no doubt that employees are happier, a condition which invariably leads to better work. It will be interesting to see how the quality and quantity of French production is affected after, say a year's trial, of the new conditions. M. Berthomieu told us that he will carry away very pleasant recollections of his stay in England and we are pleased to hear from our Ealing members that, on their part, it was a joy to work with their distinguished French colleague. unions were illegal bodies whose members were liable to fines, imprisonment, and even deportation (as in the case of the Tolpuddle Martyrs) for the "crime" of possessing a trade union card. These early pioneers were loyal to their faith and their ideals and eventually compelled the Government of the day to recognise the right of every worker to belong to his trade union. In 1868 the Trades Union Congress was formed so that all unions could combine to obtain badly needed improvements in their wages and conditions, and despite many vicissitudes it still remains the one central co-ordinating body of the British Trade Union Movement. If, as we hope, we are accepted, certain additional responsibilities will fall upon us all. It is not simply a question of paying affiliation fees, but, more important, of loyalty to those principles upon which the Trade Union Movement has been built. And that means — above all — loyalty to our own Association, the A.C.T. To-day our membership stands at a higher figure than ever before. There is not a studio or newsreel company without its A.C.T. members, and in most they are a majority. Our laboratory section has a fine and growing body of members. But the larger our membership the greater are the tasks and responsibilities falling upon the General Council, the Secretary, and the Organiser. Complaints are sometimes received from members that they are unaware of what the Association is doing. The General Council has recognised that there is some truth in this, due largely to the fact that the studios are widely scattered and consequently difficult for the Secretary to visit at frequent intervals. The General Council, to meet this difficulty, has appointed an Organiser (Reg. Bartlett), who by now will be known to many of our members, and who will be available at all times to visit studios and laboratories and render advice and assistance. If an emergency arises at your studio, 'phone for him. He's always available to help you. Ours is, in every sense of the word, a democratic organisation— and every studio and laboratory is entitled to two representatives on the General Council. Studios and laboratories should send their representatives regularly each week, and those representatives should, as a dutv. report back to their members. There would be no excuse then for lack of knowledge of the Association's very considerable activities. The new year will be an important one for the A.C.T. The degree to which it can be made our most successful year to date depends as much upon the rank and file as upon the leadership. The strength of any organisation, in the last analysis, depends on the loyalty and co-operation of t he membership, on their interest and participation in the union's work. Don't grumble in a corner, Let the General Council know what's worrying you. They try very hard to do the best for all of you. It's up to you to let them know what you think that best should be. We have every reason to be proud of A.C.T. Let our pride take the form of loyalty to it in all things, of co operation between members and with our fellow trade unionists in other unions, of observance of decisions taken by demo cratic majority, and above all of a sense of willing responsibility to the organisation which has in the past, and can even more in the future, protect our interests as technicians.