The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

94 THE C 1 N E T E C H X I C I A X September— October. 1'. C NEWSREEL AGREEMENT SIGNED >*y sidney cole It's odd that the newsreels should be the last section of the industry to be covered by an agreement. Odd historically speaking, because it' it weren't for the pioneer cameramen with their tophats and hand-cranking at headline events from the nineties onwards, there mightn't be a film industry for any tycoon to get ambitious about. Odd from A.C.T.'s point of view, because the newsreelers were among the earliest members (wasn't Jock Gemmell one of our first vice-presidents?) and because it was only the threat of there being no George VI Coronation reels that induced the film employers to consent to sit at the same table with us — I say sit, because even then they wouldn't talk. Odd from any angle, because surely no on • who at any time in the last five years has been thrilled or moved by a newsreel would rind anything strange in those who may have risked their lives to make it, belonging to a trade union if they wanted to. By a macabre timing of events, we received the news of the death of newsreeler Anbury in the Ear East on the first da\ of the Arbitration, and thereafter even the most intransigent of the employers' representatives seemed a little more comfortable arguing about overtime than about danger money and insurance. The Agreement should be a fine tonic for those new sreelers w ho held on doggedlj down the years. It's due to them that we've now got a solid Agreement, and a solid membership. That's not the end, of cours< — it's just the beginning. We mean to hold, and improve, both. As members know, no understanding was possible with the Newsreel Association, and the whole draft agreement had to go to arbitration and be fought clause by clause. Thanks go to A.C.T.'s representatives — in particular George Elvin and the newsreelers Jock Gemmell, A. Bushnell and Peter Cannon. Charlie Wheeler and myself were there too. to show that A.C.T. was in this 1(H) per cent, and to give advice as needed. All of us. I fluid-;, would like to record our appreciation of the arbitrator. Air. Gorman, K.C. The case was to last two days but. in conventional film manner. went a day and a half over schedule. .Mr. ( rorman retained his patience and temper to the end. which is more than the rest of us always did. Personally . I was most tried by the odd effect of some of the arguments of Mr. Cash (who led. as the lawyers say. for the employers), which from time to time induced in me the hallucination that it was 1844 and t rade unions were s! ill illegal. The general importance of the Agreement is first, that it levels up wages and conditions and SO gives ground to build on for the future; second. that it establishes complete recognition of A.C.T. by the Newsreel Association. In the main, the Agreement is excellent. At -.-. rough estimate, 1 should say that the award m the minimum rates put forward by A.C.T. to 80%, which means immediate considerable increases for many members. In some grades. \\, would have liked the rates to be nearer thos. the studios, but that will be our objective two years' time, when the Agreement is due renewal. The working week is fixed at 44 hi — a useful stage on the way to the 40-hour week which is the T.U.C.'s main target in indus after the war. For the first time, overtime .be paid to inside staff; and for the outside -• a regular system of allowances is laid down. Th computation of overtime is a little complical being a combination of a cumulative weekly t and of a maximum working day. But it A j matter of shop stew aids grasping it fully and ' seeing that the employer understands it eqn well.' The cost of living clause again needs vigilance. The agreement lays down that the cost of li1 bonus (which is the same as for the studios laboratories) shall be paid extra to the w . unless any part of that wage is an increase sine the war, which the employer can show to 1 been paid specifically as a war bonus. " Sp cally " means that the employer has to produc evidence. If he can't, the bonus, or appropi proportion of it. has to be added to the exi-' _ wage. There is a very good termination of employmei ; clause — members earning over £10 a week or wl have hail more than five years' continuous sen ict . must receive four weeks' notice. This is betti • than our other agreements. Dangerous work i be paid for at the rate of £."> a day. Insuran. compulsory, with different rates for work at home and abroad ; there is a scaling down oi the amounts (bom £5,( to £3.000 and from £3.000 to £2,0(1 to come into force at the end oi the war. which v ! are not entirely satisfied with. For the first time, entrance into the m v industn is regulated 1>\ clauses about Learners, of which the ieia.es are reas mablv good. Cor rest, there are clauses similar to those in studio agreement covering the settlement oi disputes, the transfer of services, the selection staff, temporary working in a higher or to grade, sickm ss and holiday s. So there's your agreement, newsreelers. It > up to your shop stewards now to see it's operate 1. < ri iod luck to vim all.