The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

92 CINE TECHNICIAN Organiser's Page REDUNDANCY ? By MIDDY A SSOCIATED REDIFFUSION. ^ according to Press statements, were about to declare a state of redundancy. We immediately informed the Company that under normal practice, redundancies should be discussed with the Trade Unions concerned, and that should notices be issued without consultation then A.C.T. would reserve the right to take whatever action they thought necessary. Warning Letters The Company met the Organiser, together with the Steward from Wembley. They stated that notices would not be issued, but letters would be sent out warning certain people that their services would be terminated as from dates mentioned in the letters, and this was to be construed as a preliminary warning and not as a notice. The Company were informed that this was quite unsatisfactory and if such letters were issued we should construe it as notice of termination of employment. The Company went ahead and issued the letters. A meeting of our members was therefore immediately called at Wembley, and this was also attended by N.A.T.K.E. and E.T.U. members. A.C.T. made it perfectly clear that unless such letters were withdrawn, we intended to institute an overtime ban. N.A.T.K.E. and E.T.U. members immediately supported this and a joint resolution from the three Unions was moved to the effect that unless the Company withdrew the redundancy announcement by 6 p.m. on Friday, 11th May, it would place a ban on all overtime over 44 hours in any one week; the week being from Monday to Friday; no Saturdays or Sundays would be worked, and each week would stand on its own. This overtime ban would come into force as from midnight on Friday, May 11th. This decision was rigidly adhered to and no work was carried out on the Saturday or Sunday at Wembley. On the following Monday, representatives of the Company had a meeting with the three officials from the Unions to discuss the problem and when local representatives arrived from Wembley they informed us that in spite of the redundancy notices additional staff had been introduced at Wembley on that morning. The Company were immediately informed that under these circumstances notices already issued must be withdrawn, failing which, members of the three Unions at Wembley were pressing for strike action. The Company then agreed to withdraw such notices. Each person who had received notice would receive a letter confirming withdrawal of the notice until the three Unions had met the Company to discuss the overall question. This meeting took place on June 7th. The T.U. side refused to accept that there was a case of redundancy: consequently there is to be a further meeting on July 13th and in the meantime all notices have been cancelled. The facts of this case should be a reminder to those employed in the Television field who have not yet joined their appropriate Union, i.e. those Unions affiliated to the T.U.C., that they should do so if they wish to receive the protection that the affiliated Unions can give them through the general strength of the Trade Union movement. Congratulations Congratulations to Desmond Davis, Vice-Chairman of the TV Producer/Directors' Section, whose wife has presented him with a daughter. I understand that Desmond was a little disappointed at the rapidity of the birth as he had taken his wife to the Nursing Home and bought a bottle of whiskey with which to sit up all night and wait for the news but he did not even have time to draw the cork ! June 1956 The General Council Meets PROPOSALS FOR LAB AGREEMENT The General Council gave its consent to go ahead for a new Lab Agreement after detailed consideration had been given to the proposals of the Lab Committee. The main points that will be made to the Film Laboratory Association are a 5-day 40-hour week (35 hours for clerical employees)— double time for Saturday work — three weeks' holiday after 5 years' service — lOOTr Trade Union membership — 30/ of the present cost of living bonus to be consolidated in the basic rate (20/for juniors under 18 years of age) — £1 increase irrespective of salaries received — newcomers to receive 90 <"< of graded rate for first six months, then full rate — additional Clerical and Supervisory grades to be inserted in the Agreement— full cost of living bonus on reaching the age of 18 — 8 weeks' full sick pay and 8 weeks' half pay after 3 years' service, 12 weeks' full and 12 weeks' half pay after 5 years' service — consultation with A.C.T. before overtime is worked in order to curb excessive overtime. In addition, A.C.T.'s negotiators would discuss with the F.L.A. the establishment of a Pension Scheme for Laboratory workers and the principles of providing educational facilities for newcomers and trainees. These proposals were reached after the Lab Committee had sorted out every proposal that had come from laboratory shops and the Executive had added a few points. The General Council unanimously endorsed all these proposals, and instructed the Executive to fix a date for a mass meeting of all Lab members, at which these proposals would be put and a campaign planned to achieve successful negotiation. TV MEMBERS, MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM. The Council received a report of the annual general meeting of tin1 Manchester Branch and agreed the by-laws of