The Cine Technician (1943 - 1945)

28 THE CLNE-TECHNICI A N March— April, L943 ORGANISER'S NOTEBOOK Serving Members. Art Inn Smith 1ms been serving as a war reserve attached to the Shenley Police Force almost sim-c war began. Many of our older laboratory members know him. He used to work at the Ideal Laboratory at Rock Studios under Vic Alder's father. Later, Arthur moved to Elstree Laboratories when the\ were built h\ British International Pictures. He is still footslogging and could write a book of Ins experiences in air raids during the earlier part of the war. Football, cricket and gardening are still his favourite pastimes. The other day 1 heard from Reg. Marsh, who is tied up as a despatch rider in the N.F.S. at Potters Bar. He will never forget the days at Elstree Laboratories when he was foreman printer. That is where he met and married his wife, Winifred Bradley. Jim Bailey, of Humphries, brother of Chris Bailey, is serving in the photographic section of the R.A.F. I've had a couple of letters from him. His health hasn't been too good lately. He sends regards to all those who know him and especially to his old workmates at Humphries. Needless to say all these men are looking forward to the time when they can get back into harness again a! the laboratories. Every Little Helps. The London Trades Council appealed to all affiliated unions on behalf of the French and Belgian trade union delegation to the Work] Trade Union Congress. Soap, dried eggs, and dried milk were needed. Soap is in very short supply in those liberated countries; the French and Belgian women delight in washing the clothes of our boys over there but just can't get the soap. Permission was given for such commodities to be taken back by the delegation. Directly the call went out A.C.T. members got to work; ration books were to the fore and we finished up with three to lour cwt. of goods. Realist, LATA and G.B.I, were especially generous. It is concrete efforts such as this which will help to weld internal ii mal trade union solidarity . Cartoon, Diagrammatic, Trailer and Title Agreements. Much water has flowed under the bridge since two years ago A.C.T. decided to stabilise and improve the rates and conditions in the cartoon and diagrammatic sections of the industry. At thai time certain good employers, notably Publicity Pictures, were operating on decent standards whilst elsewhere there was a different stor\ to tell. Since then rapid strides have been made arising out of which we now hold agreements with llalas & Batchelor, Technicolor, Larkins & Co. and British Industrial Films. In addition. Publicity Pictures are prepared to abide 1>\ any agreement reached with the Association of Short el -J 10 (J £12 10 1 1 eio o 0 £8 it 0 £7 0 0 Film Producers, but in the meantime are operal on a standard equal to and in many cases b< I than that laid down in such agreements as web (I.B.I, and G.B.S.S. Cartoon Units will als honour an agreement between the A. S.F.I'. A.C.T. In the main these two companies observing the standard operating elsewhere. Further, an agreemenl between National Scri Services (the trailer producing company) and A.C.T. came into force as from 1st January. 1945 the principal wage rates of which are: — Trick Cameraman Supen isini; Editor Editor Background Artist Negative Lettering Artist . Plus, of course, the standard cost-of-living bonus of approximately £1 3s: Od. tor adults, dependenl on the rise and fall in the Government cosl living index figure. The normal working week is 44 hours with overtime payment at time-andone-half and double time for Sunday work. The Agreement also makes provision for two weekholiday on full pay. Sickness is provided for at four weeks on full and four weeks on half-p in any one calendar year after 12 months' service with the company. On the debit side, in the Greater London area. we have the Merton Park Studio diagrammatic department where the highest wages paid in a section of 11 employees, excluding the sm visor, is t4 per week plus cost-of-living bonus. Three of the employees are receiving less thai; the normal trainee rate-. Four employees will by the time this appear? in Press, or soon afterwards, have qualified for tin rate for the job, but judging by the opinion i the Managing Director there is little chanci them receiving it. He claims that it is impossible to obtain skilled employees; other companies have been able and it is significant that some of bis own skill. artists have left to take up employment elsewhere. The management also claim that the work the\ turn out is of a simpler character than that don. by other diagrammatic firms. Artists who have left Merton Park think otherwise' and tbe\ should know. What it amounts to is that Merton Pari Studios diagrammatic section is running on tin cheap to the detriment of other similar companies in the industry . The company is willing to abide h\ any act,, ment reached with the A.S.F.P. In the meantime they are making hay while the sun shines and our members there consider t one long rainj day. Bert Craik