The Cine Technician (1939)

211 i ]•: •IN K-T K ( J I N J C i A N March-April, 1938 Act. II the organisers had persisted in holding the meeting we assume film technicians could be accused of sediWe've been called all sorts oi names from time to time but seditious! Perhaps Grin Fawkes, alter all, was the only person to cuter Parliament with good inlent urns ! Of course we held our meeting. We went to the nearby Gatti's Restaurant, where a large audience listened to speeches from Tom O'Brien and myself, with Ralph Bond in the chair. lull reports have appeared in the trade and \-,\\ press. The following resolution summarising the purpi ii ol the meeting was unanimously carried : — "This meeting of unemployed film workers and technicians draws attention to the grave position in the film industry, 80% oi the workers engaged on production being unemployed, and urges Parliament to amend the Films Bill to ensure continuity of employment, fair wages and working conditions to all engaged in the indusf rj . " As I write, the Committee Stage of the Bill is completed. < )nl\ the Reporl Sf i go* and the House oi Lords remain to make possible alterations. Theirs is a grave responsibility. A i this stage the Biii is grossly inadequate. True, certain improvements have been made. Most oi We have received many letters of congratulation lor our activities on the Cinematograph Films Bill. T\ pica I of these is a letter just to hand from Francis Carver, well-known lighting cameraman, saying: "1 hope the active and courageous pari which the Association is taking in the present crisis will soon be rewarded." It's just part of the A. C.T. service, but we appreciate such letters all the same. Thank you, Air. Carvel-! them are in accord with the campaign led by the A. C.T. and N.A.T.K. under the auspices of the Film Industry Empli ivees' ( 'ouncil. in conjunction with other employ 'os' organisations in the industry. Press campaigns, lobbying ot members, deputations, officials addressing meetings of members oi both Houses, mass meetings and demonstrations, innumerable conferences and commitl 'e meetings have all played then part. All these activities are being carried on from day to day until the very last stage oi the Bill's journey through Parliament. The co-operation of all the ten thousand film workers (and they have responded iiol>l\ to every call so far) between now and then may bring jusl that extra pressure necessary to increase the quota rates (the present 'J.C' increase in Exhibitors' Quota, while welcome, is still grossh inadequate) and make other amendments of vital importance ii the uexl decade is to see progress in the production of British films and 'in improvemenl in the lot ol those who make them. In our nexi issue we will report at length on the provisions of the Act, which will l>\ then be law. If is up to you, reader and Him technician, to play your part in ensuring that our next number is one of optimism for the future of the industry in which to-day you are probabh unemployed, buf in which for the next ten years you hop< to work. May we by your wholehearted co-operation turn t hat hope into a cerf aint v . '-' This has beoi held as ice go to press. Our essential grievances have still not been remedied. Continued pressure, therefore, is still of paramount importance. PAID HOLIDAYS FOR ALL (Continued from next page) voluntary unemployment, or changes in the management oi the undertaking in which the ii is employed. i h i An\ agreemenf to relinquish the right to an annual holidaj or to forego such holiday, shall be void, (i) An\ person who engages in paid employment dur_ thi course oi a holiday with pay shall be . ed of his right to payment in respei I the holiday. (j) Nothing in the law or regulations providing for holidays with pa\ shall adversely affect any award, custom or agreement between emplo and the workpeople which ensures more favouraide conditions than those provided by the law. (ki Adequate penalties shall be provided for breaches ol the provisions of the law. To facilitate enforcement, e\er\ employer must keep in an approved form a record showing (a) date ol entry of ever-) person employed; (b) duration of annual holiday to which he is entitled; (c) date or dates on which holiday was taken; (d numeration paid. The remainder of our testimony, at the first hearing given to us by the Committee, was directed towards the method of applying the principle, generally and in respect of seasonal, casual and intermittent employment. We stated emphatically our view that legislation is necessary to make holidays with pay the statutory right of all workers. The matter cannot be left entirely to collective bargaining and negotiation. Legal force could reasonably be given to extend voluntary agreements made by unions and employers' organisations; and we would approve arrangements by which unions and employers' organisations in particular industries or groups ot trade should be required to prepare schemes for approval by the Ministi of Labour. Where such schemes were not forthcoming, or where the degree of organisation was inadequate, we gested that the Minister should be made responsible for producing a scheme: but we were strongly of the opinion that unless the right to an annual holiday is secured by law for all workpeople it was never likely to be extended to cover all categories ot wage-earners. On December 1st, 1937, 1 appeared again before the Government Committee to submit supplementary evidence mi behalf of the T.U.C. Further developments oi the Holidays With Pay Movement both in this countn and abroad, and certain opinions which had been ex] upon our main observations and proposals, made it desirable to add to our testimony. The memorandum submitted on the second occasion with the oral examination has now been published under the title "Holidavs For All." 1 am indebted to those of my General Council colleagues who accompanied me on these occasions and for the valuable help 1 received in committee. OURSELVES We have to announce a change in publication date. From this number we shall appear on the first day of March, .May, July. September, November and January. This explains why there is no issue covering February 1938. December 1937 Januan 1938 was our last issue. March— April is the current one.