The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

132 CINE TECHNICIAN September 1956 r.u.c. (continued) Your delegates intervened on a number of issues. The General Secretary supported the National Union of Bank Employees and others in protesting at the lack of clarity in the document on Congress Finances submitted to a private session which sought authority to increase affiliation fees by 3d. a member per annum. There is no doubt that some increase is justified but the document was muddled and the figures in it did not even add up correctly. We asked at least for accuracy and efficiency. We got neither, but the increase went through. Slaughter of Innocents We also protested, with the support of Equity and others, at the " slaughter of the innocents " on Friday morning when about one quarter of the resolutions before Congress were perfunctorily disposed of in three hours, the other three-quarters having had four days. Our plea to continue through Friday afternoon was rejected. A.C.T.T.'s resolutions were two of the many which suffered. The General Secretary made the only speech on the film resolution, not even Tom O'Brien being able to speak in seconding as he had agreed to do. Government and Films Congress unanimously approved the resolution which drew attention to the lamentable failure of the Government to help effectively British film production and instructed the General Council to give all possible support to the joint proposals of the six trade unions operating in the industry. In moving the resolution on our behalf the General Secretary pointed out that it was supported unanimously by all six unions in the industry — actors, musicians, technicians, craftsmen, and general workers. He said that the union's plan would turn the British film industry into a virile and decent one. Three out of every four films on our screens were foreign, not because the public did not like British films but because of an idiotic quota system, the dominating position of the American economy, and the abject failure of the British Government to assist our film industry. The Government took in entertainments tax 4d. out of every Is. paid by the cinema-goer and about 2d. went to the makers of films. Although the film industry had made progress under the Labour Government, the situation under the Conservative Government was a study in retrogression. A.C.T.T. members were being denied employment because films were being made in Italy instead of in this country owing to lack of studio space. B.B.C. Ralph Bond spoke on the resolution deploring the fact that the B.B.C, while still refusing recognition to some Congress-affiliated trade unions representing substantial numbers of their employees, nevertheless has permitted its programme time to be used for the purpose of influencing trade union elections. He pointed out that the B.B.C. still refused to recognise A.C.T.T. although we had secured full recognition with the Commercial Television Contractors. On the second part of the resolution he quoted the obligations of the B.B.C.'s Charter " to give its listeners at home and overseas news that is objective and without political bias and to see that over the whole range of its programmes political comment is fair and balanced ". He said that the B.B.C. cannot really complain if people view with concern a public corporation which, while withholding recognition to Unions who have the right to be recognised, at the same time seeks to tell other trade unionists how and for whom they should vote. In view of the fact that some delegates had misinterpreted the wording of our resolution, which they thought might give the impression that it would be all right for the B.B.C. to interfere in trade union elections once they had given recognition to the Unions, we decided, as a friendly gesture, and having made our points, to withdraw the resolution, and the Congress agreed to this. The General Secretary again stood for the General Council in the non-manual workers' group. Sir Tom O'Brien was elected with 4,730,000 votes (the lowest poll of any elected member) and the General Secretary was an easy second with 2,127.000 votes, a considerable increase on his previous best. Cover Design Competition Toward the beginning of next year CINE TECHNICIAN will change its name. In order to give full recognition to the place which Television Technicians have in A.C.T.T. the journal will be called SCREEN TECHNICIAN. To mark this change we are seeking a new cover design which will show clearly that the journal is for technicians engaged in film production, television, film processing, stock and equipment manufacture, etc. The competition is open to all members of A.C.T.T. (though entries from other Trade Unionists will not be barred) and the Finance and General Purposes Committee offer a first prize of ten guineas and a second prize of three guineas for the best designs submitted. The decision of the General Council regarding awards will be final and A.C.T.T. will retain the right to use all designs submitted. Designs need not necessarily allow space for the printing of a still, but if they do, such space should lie proportioned to allow for the normal shape of still and not a square as at present. Designs should allow for printing in black and one colour. All entries must be sent to the Editor at Head Office, the envelope marked " Cover Competition ". Final date for receipt of entries is FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 16