The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

100 THE C I N E T E C H X I C I A N September— October, 1943 ORGANISER'S NOTEBOOK What is Trade Unionism? As I write Italy has just surrendered and the Trades Union Congress is in full swing. H.M. Shvernik, Secretary of the All -Union Council of Trade Unions in the U.S.S.R. spoke to the T.U.C. and was received with inconceivable acclamation. Italy fell because the people didn't want war, and it is not a had guess that former trade unionists were prominent amongst those who sowed the seeds of dissent and made it clear to their fellow nationals that they were fighting on the wrong side. What is this Trade Unionism which is striving to overthrow fascism? What is this Trade Unionism which is drawing the common people of all lands more closely together? In simple terms, it is a union of working-class men and women united for the purpose of protecting and advancing their interest. If unity be important it must be pre-eminently so to working men and women, whose only property, their labour, is constantly in danger of being depreciated by the present competitive system. Under such circumstances workers require to combine for mutual assistance for trade purposes. They must do this intelligently, as well as in a spirit of goodwill and comradeship. Workers exist by their labour, and are, after all, dependent upon what the merest breath of adversity may in a moment dispel. The time can arrive when a worker may be suffering through unemployment. Trade Unionism gives relief in such circumstances, facilitates the obtaining oi new employment and adds to the happiness of all through improved conditions which can he obtained only by collective effort. It is your duty to aid by all means in your power a cause so important to yourself and your fellows. Remember i ha1 in aiding others you are helping you In your own section of Industry, A. < '.'!'. is bhe appri ipriate Trade I Inion, ami w e are sure all our members will do their utmost to educate nonmembers in a change of view, lint this aim should go further and extend in all workers with whom vdii come in contact. Cam to them the message of Trade Unionism, and illustrate it with what lias happened in your own industrj since A.C.T. became strong. This is Union Service: I make no apology for reprinting the following item from tins month's issue df Labour, the official organ of the Trades Union Congress : — Her.' is a striking compensation case as re corded in the official journal of the Amalgamated Engineering Union. One of their members evacuated from Gibraltar was killed in an accident at work about a year ago. Information reached the Union that attempts were being made to persuade the widow to accept £200. As she understood very little English she was inclined to take the offer. Union headquarters at once informed her, her brother, the Union branch and the Union Compensation Solicitor, as well as the deceased member's approved society (which was not the A.E.U.) putting them all on their guard. The case was taken in hand before the legal defence schedule was completed and the final result was a settlement for £1,500 which was paid into court for the benefit of the widow and children." Laboratories: Laboratory Committee meeti _continue to be well attended. All laboratories are taking a keen interest in them. By the time this has been published we should have met the laboratory owners to discuss rates of pay for jobs not at present covered by the schedule in the Standard Agreement. There have been several general meetings at different laboratories where clarification has been given regarding the ballot for affiliation to the Labour Party. Problems to do with time off for shopping for women workers have been dealt with. Difficulties in reinstating members discharged from the Services may arise from now on : in fact one has already been dealt with. It is up to us to keep a vigilant eye on any cases of doubt. A man may he unable to do his old job, say on Night Work, because he is medically unfit. Nevertheless if he is capable oi work he should he reengaged by his old firm at a salary comparable to that being paid to him when he was called up. After all hut for such men laboratories (and dios) mighl net lie in production now. Employment of Servicemen on Commercial Productions : There is a tendency which crops up ever\ now and then to employ service technicians mi commercial productions at servicemen's pay. The General Council, to say the least, object to this practice verj strongly. We must admit thai producers arc generally prepared to make up the balance of pay to the service technicians, hut King's Rules and Regulations forbid this. We have known cases of this practice being put across when members on our hooks h«ve been out of work. The only solution seems that permission shall not be