The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

Jan. -Feb., 1953 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 23 NIGHT WORK— DAILY RATE BASIS: We are still having difficulties with producers on the payment for night work on the daily rate basis. In order to avoid complications, will any member who is called upon to undertake night work on a daily rate basis please get in touch with Head Office for guidance. This should be done before the work is undertaken because it is difficult to obtain redress for members after a job has been done. Whilst on the subject of working conditions; it was necessary for Head Office to interview the management of a Company who had scheduled their first week's shooting on a total of 60 hours for the week, but due to the intervention of Head Office, this schedule was altered to conform with the B.F.P.A. Agreement. SERVICE TO MEMBERS: Head Office are still very alert to various difficulties which members meet, not only in their work but with other problems. For example, one of the major Studios recently refused to carry out the reinstatement order for a lad returning from the Forces, claiming that they were entitled to employ the lad for a period of time to check whether or not he was suitable to be reinstated in his promoted grade. This was taken up very vigorously by Head Office and the lad concerned received retrospective payments totalling £128. THE MINISTRY' OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE: Here, one of our members was refused unemployment benefit, having expended all his unemployed credits. The member was represented at the Tribunal and his unemployment benefit has been extended for a further six months. It may be recalled that about three years ago, one of our members working for the C.O.I, in Malaya was badly shot-up when filming. The compensation offered by the Treasury was £125. Through the pressure from the office and with great assistance from Dr. Morgan, our Honorary Medical Officer, this sum has now been raised to £1,500. This has been a very long and weary battle, with a very successful outcome. Another case arose where on a recent production an A.C.T. member was threatened with dismissal for alleged inefficiency. Due to the intervention of Head Office and the assistance of the local Shop Steward, he was retained in employment and the allegation withdrawn. Lastly, arising out of a film company's change of plans, one of our members who had been verbally engaged to work on a picture found himself without a job. With the assistance of Head Office and our legal advisers he was compensated to the extent of £268 10s. Od. NEWSREELS: Our Newsreel members will be pleased to note that the N.R.A. have now agreed to meet the Newsreel Negotiating Committee to discuss a revised Agreement, on January 14th. Meanwhile, the Newsreel Committee itself is discussing the Newsreel Companies' proposed plans for the Coronation film as it is obvious that this film will be made on a very extended footage, and technicians employed by Newsreel Companies — by the very nature of their job — will be expected to work long hours on a continuous basis. When the Committee has reached a final decision an approach will be made to the N.R.A. to discuss the Coronation film. KODAK: We are pleased to report successful negotiations with the Kodak management wherein they have agreed to publicise union meetings, and our members employed there have specially printed posters; also, the management have agreed to allow posters to be put in other departments where we might be able to recruit members. CHARLES CHAPLIN: The General Council have unanimously agreed to invite Charles Chaplin to become an honorary member of our union. Arrangements are in hand to confer this on Mr. Chaplin, who has agreed to the suggestion. TUBERCULOSIS: A.C.T. was represented at a national Tuberculosis Conference and observing that this disease is prevalent within the industry, a few of the more salient points discussed should be mentioned: Dr. Horace Joules, Medical Superintendent of the Central Middlesex Hospital, put it aptly when he said " The shame of tuberculosis is not attached to the family concerned but to the society which allows the condition which breeds tuberculosis." Dr. Daniels, Secretary of the Tuberculosis Research Unit of the Medical Research Council, pointed out that those who wanted to fight for better conditions and services in their own districts must not be fooled by the answer that tuberculosis is on the decline. It is true that the death rate was falling on account of improved medical treatment, but there were still 1,000 new cases discovered every week. The disease particularly affects people between the ages of 15 and 40, and has the greatest mortality of all diseases among young people. The Stills above and at top of facing page are by Hans Casparius, showing unit shooting scenes for Italian film " Our Children " in Britain. Crew provided by A.C.T. members.