The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

46 THE CINE-TBCHNICIAX March— April, 1943 ORGANISER'S NOTEBOOK Warner Bros. : Discussions with some of our members at Warner Bros, have been going on for the past few months. You know the sort of tiling : a quiet chat in the local pub, correspondence and telephone conversations. Then there was a meeting between Messrs. Royce and Salomon representing the Warner Bros, management, and the General Secretary and myself. Arising out of this meeting Mr. Royce undertook to place his observations on tin Studio Standard Agreement before the Managing Director, Mr. Max Milder, on Mr. Milder 's return from America. It is anticipated that discussions will shortly take place between Mr. Milder and A.C.T. To keep the ball rolling a meeting of our members at Warner Bros, was called and the invitation was extended to any non-members who cared to come along. The response was excellent and in this respect we are indebted to the Warner Bros. Works Committee who gave us their full support and were represented at the meeting by Mr. Tom Hennessy and Mr. W. Hiett. George Elvin gave a full report on the Studio Agreement. A resolution was carried unanimously authorising A.C.I1, to approach the Management with a view to negotiating an Agreement. An A.C.T. Committee was elected with Mr. Russell Westwood as Shop Steward. He was also elected to represent A.C.T. on the Works Committee. It anticipated that Warner's will in future be represented at General Council meetings and will consequently be in close touch with all the activities of the Union. To round it all off, Warner Bros, (as we go to press) have agreed to observe the Studio Agreement . Just Part of the A.C.T. Service! Peter Searl, camera loader at Riverside, under six months contract to Butchers, had to go into hospital. Through Miine misunderstanding it looked as though he would be paid a week's salary and lose his job. Fortunately, Head Office was able to put the inai tei right. Consequently he received what sickness pay he was entitled to and his job will be open to him when he is fit for work again. Pathe Laboratory Dance : Pathe held another of their popular dances at the Trade Union Club on Saturday. February 27th. Charlie Kay's Swing Band supplied the music and were an entertainment in themselves. They are well worth booking for future events. Attendance has gradually increased from dance to dance so that it looks as though it will be neeessary to book a larger hall for future dances. The proceeds of the last two are to go to the A.C.T. Benevolent Fund and will include the takings from a rattle run at the last dance. The winner generously handed over the prize money to the Fund. The Pathe Dance Committee, Miss A. M. Cooper, 'Mr. F. Fuller and Mr. F. Baker, have done a lot to further the social side of A.C.T. among laboratory members. Their next dance is on May 1st. details will be made known later. Essential Works Order: The Ministry of Labour proposes substantively to schedule certain undertakings in the Film Industry under the Essential Works Order some time in April, provided, among other things, the terms and conditions of employment are not less favourable than those provided for under the Conditions of Employment and National Arbitration Orders. Needless to say. A.C.T. can never agree in the case of one or two firms until we are satisfied that certain adjustments in wages and conditions have been put into operation. The Beveridge Report : British National gave us Walter Greenwood's Love on tlie Dole as a screen classic. What an opportunity is provided through the Beveridge Report to make a film with even greater potentialities! A east well chosen, in touch and in sympathy with the common people, and a team of brilliant film technicians, could spread the message of Beveridge to all the people in the land and prepare them to fight for it. The theme, of course, simple: a peep into the future : the brazen attempt of Big Business to sabotage the implementing of the Report through Parliament and the Press ; a picture of what would have happened had they got away with it ; and finally the rising wrath of the people surging forward irresistibly and forcing their will on the Government until the Report as a whole was adopted — and with improvements. It's a great idea, but, remembering Love on the Dole, would it gel past the censor? And who would finance it — Mr. Bank? Bert Craik ,