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July — August, 1944
THE CINE -TECHNICIAN
57
40-HOUR WEEK
The Trades Union Congress has circularised affiliated unions putting forward suggestions and asking for their views on proposals to establish a 40-hour week as a maximum in post-war industry. It is stressed that the 40-hour week must be without reduction in earnings. If this point was omitted the projected reform would become merely a device for increasing employment. We want everybody to work less hours, but we don't want their earnings to suffer thereby.
The A.C.T. General Council has replied to the T.U.C. circular putting forward its views on the possibility of the adoption of the 40hour week in the film industry.
Dealing with the position generally, Sir Walter Citrine writes in the current issue of The T.U.C. in Wartime : —
" One of the most important industrial reforms which succeeded the last war was the reduction of the working week Irom 54 to 47 or 48 hours, and this the Trade Union Movement has been able to retain in spite of the unprecedented economic depression.
" During the inter-war years, the trade unionists of all countries aimed at securing through the
International Labour Office a universal 40-hour week without reduction in earnings, in order to make, up for increased mechanical efficiency. But the attempt was obstructed by reactionary Governments and employers, and cheap labour competition from Germany, Japan and Poland, and usually subsidised by governments of these countries, made further advance impossible in this direction.
" The position at the end of this war will be radically changed. Japan will not be able to flood the world with goods produced on a "coolie" basis. Neither will Germany be able to engage in her "dumping" activities for quite a long time. No doubt some of the occupied countries will have a say in the matter. So it looks as if the three main industrial units of the immediate post-war period will be the United States of America, Russia and Great Britain — in other words, three high level countries."
On our part, A'C.T. will give full support to every effort made to a move which in our own industry is, in our opinion, an immediate and necessary post-war desirability.
MERT
STUDIOS
A Modern, compact Studio with up-to-date equipment,
where more than 120 SKILLED TECHNICIANS and staff
are fully engaged in making
INSTRUCTIONAL, DOCUMENTARY AND TRAINING FILMS
for His Majesty's Government.
MERTON PARK STUDIOS LIMITED
MERTON PARK, LONDON, S.W. 18. telephone ■. liberty tin
One mile from Wimbledon Station