The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

52 CINE TECHNICIAN April 1955 surely not your intention that the Company should depart from normal Trade Union practice and I do not think, therefore, that there is anything I can add to my previous letter beyond informing you that the Agreement to which I referred does not preclude the participation in the television industry at some future date of unions other than the BBC Staff Association and the National Union of General and Municipal Workers. From Mr. A. W. Groocock, of Future Productions Ltd., to George Elvin, ACT, 6.4.55 I have had passed to me a copy of a letter dated 5th April, 1955, from one of the Organisers of your Association to Business Manager of Associated Rediffusion Ltd., during the course of which the writer says ' I anticipate that my Executive will take the necessary steps to advise our members not to work on your forthcoming productions at Shepperton Studios ', and the letter makes it clear that the threat is against Future Productions Ltd. This Company is empowered to produce films and the terms and conditions of employment of employees of the Company are in conformity with the standard studio agreements commonly applying in the British Film Industry. Under these circumstances, I cannot see how there can be a trade dispute between your Association and this Company. If, however, there is any matter on which your Association desires to make representation, officials of the Company will be prepared to meet officials of your Association following a request for a meeting. In view of the imminence of the Easter Holidays, if you desire such a meeting, it is suggested that you telephone this office before 12 noon tomorrow, 7th April, 1955. From Mr. A. \V. Groocock to George Elvin, 7.4.55 At a meeting held this morning between your representatives and representatives of this Company, it was stated that your Union in tended to advise its members working for this Company at Shepperton Studios to withdraw their labour. Your explanation of this proposed action was that you were dissatisfied with the position of your members in the television industry. This Company is, however, engaged in the film industry and must, therefore, reject any suggestion that its production should be affected by considerations outside the film industry. As stated in my letter of yesterday and at this morning's meeting, this Company has been at pains to discover the terms of the studio agreements commonly applying in the British film industry and has every intention of complying with them. The action proposed by you appears, therefore, to be quite unjustified and I must ask you to inform me how there can be any dispute between your Association and this Company. From Mr. A. W. Groocock to George Elvin, 12.4.55 Although we have received no reply to our letter of the 7th instant, our employees at Shepperton Studios have today ceased work as a result of your Association's instructions to its members. This is a serious and urgent matter, and we must ask you to let us have immediate reply to our letter. From George Elvin to Mr. A. W. Groocock, 13.4.55 I have to acknowledge receipt of your letters of the 7th and 12th April, neither of which have I seen until this morning owing to the intervention of the Easter holidays. The difference between us is simply that you are seeking to differentiate between your policy as Future Productions Limited and the policy of your controlling company Associated Rediffusion Limited. We cannot see any such distinction and whilst it remains the policy of Associated Rediffusion not to recognise this Union we shall continue to reserve the right to advise our members that they should not give their services to a company or one of its subsidiaries with such a policy. From Mr. T. M. Brownrigg, General Manager, Associated Rediffusion Limited, to George Elvin, 15.4.55 I refer to Mr. Harris's letter of 2nd April, to your reply of 5th April, and to the further letter of Mr. Harris of 6th April. In the first place, I must reiterate that Future Productions Ltd. is our wholly owned subsidiary charged with the production of films for television and as such, will abide by the national agreements for the film industry. My company, which is responsible for the provision of television programmes, has concluded an agreement jointly with the Municipal and General Workers' Union and the B.B.C. Staff Association: a copy of this Agreement is enclosed for your information. You will note that the Agreement does not preclude the participation in the television industry of other unions. I have noted your verbal observations on the principle of the recognition of the BBC Staff Association, and I am prepared, provided that you agree to call off the existing strike against Future Productions Ltd., to recommend to the other television Programme Contractors that they should meet your representatives to hear your views on this problem of union recognition. If this is agreed, I, on my part, will be prepared to withdraw Mr. Harris's letter of 2nd April to facilitate the meeting with the Programme Contractors' representatives referred to above.