The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

30 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN ORGANISER'S NOTEBOOK May — June, 1044 It Happened through the Blitz. Film Laboratories were bombed out in a recent raid. When .1 small building receives direct hits that pn well finishes it. Fortunately it was not on a ni reel night and so there was only one minor casualty. An interesting outcome came about because of the need to get the newsreel processed. The Film Lab. boys were sent over to Olympic Laboratories to do the job. When our members at Olympic learnt they were 100% A.C.T. there was no difficulty and every facility was given. Our members at Film Laboratories would like to place on record how much they appreciate the comradely co-operation received from all the workers at Olympic. We are quite certain that had Film Labs, been a non-A.C.T. Laboratory there would have been a different story to tell. There is a moral here for employers of non-union labour and also for employees who through indifference have never joined A.C.T. Olympic. Eecently there have been great improvements at this laboratory. The employees with long service and experience have all had increases over the minimum. When one considers that there are fully skilled film printers who have given years of service to the industry who are still earning £4 0s. Od. per week, the reiterated statements of employers about minimum rates comes home to one with full force. How often have we of the Negotiating Committees heard, " but we are only discussing minimum rates ; a good man will always be paid well above these rates." Well, I can name many A.C.T. members who are firstclass men and women at their jobs but they are still on the minimum rate. National Screen Services. We are glad to report that the boys and girls at National Screen Services are flocking into A.C.T. A shop steward and committee have been elected and they attend General Council meetings regularly. An agreement based on the Shorts Agreement has been drawn up in collaboration with our members. This was submitted to the management as a basis for discussion. The Organiser has hud two meetings with Mr. Arnold William-. representing the management, and it was felt thai reasonable progress was being made. Unfortunately, on the return of Mr. Paul Kimberley, the managing director, from India the position has altered considerably. It lias been made quite clear that the company will neither recognise our shop steward nor discuss te question of an agreement with us. This is somewhat surprising in view of the fact that Mr. Paul Kimberley was chairman of the old Laboratory Association which negotiated the Standard Laboratory Agreement. It is significant that the company have a monopoly in trailer production. Wth all that is being | said about monopolies at the present time and the attitude of this company one can easily understand the A.C.T.'s policy regarding monopoli National Screen Services Factorj is at Perivale where trailer production and Shorts Films are made. Apart from the editorial, camera and art departments there is an extensive despatch department where the bulk of the work is done by juvenile labour. A handful of laboratory workers on the payroll are down at Henderson's pending the building of a temporary laboratory at Oxbridge. None of the employees receive a cost-of-living bonus. All the employees at Perivale with one or two exceptions are paid considerably below the rates laid down in Agreements covering the Industry. Naturally, we shall take the company to arbitration. Since the managing director returned to this country there has been a definite move t< smash A.C.T.'s influence at Perivale. While wi have no quarrel with any firm which prefers take a chance at arbitration we raise the strong protests at any intimidation of our members, and here we shall have the full support, not only ot every trade unionist in the film industry, but also of employers who are paying fair wages and of the Ministry of Labour. We should very much regret having to include this matter in our terms of reference when the case is referred to arbitration. There then ;s the picture of National S Services at the time of going to press. It is one of a section of workers taking advantage of their democratic rights to organise themselves into their appropriate trade union for the purpose of negotiating an agreement and meeting with all of difficulties. We sincerely trust there will be 8 happier story to tell in our next issue of this journal. Bert Craik WHO'S WHERE IN FILM PRODUCTION There is no " Who's Where " in this issue. Shorts were fully covered two issues ago and Feature details will in future appear in a new form. The Credits scheme arranged with the B.F.P.A will result in a record of each production b< deposited with the A.C.T. as the film is finished. Will all Shop Stewards co-operate with the Producers to ensure that the Credits Forms, supplied to bhem 1>\ the British Film Producers' Association, are completed aim returned. All these records will be published during the course oi -y ach year.