The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

September 1956 CINE TECHNICIAN Organiser's Page 139 By Middy REDUNDANCY SETTLEMENT THE redundancies at AssociatedRediffusion have now been discussed with the Unions concerned and we have successfully obtained compensation for those people to be discharged. The following is agreed : To employees with more than six months but less than one year's service, compensation will be paid to the equivalent of an extra week's pay, and a quarter of a month's pay for those on monthly staff. To employees with more ' than one year's service, compensation equivalent to two weeks' pay or half a month's salary, whichever is appropriate. Further, the Company has agreed that as from Monday. September 17th. a 44-hour week only shall be worked at Wembley Studios, where they propose to "centre all their production. The boys on the job have accepted this settlement and ran a very successful dance at Wembley on Friday, 14th September. 1 think their ticket is well worth reproducing. Here it is : will continue to carry out card checks on all Units. Some of our readers will be aware that this has already been done, but it will be continued, therefore, it will be of very great he'p if members in arrears would either send direct to Head Office or pay their Collectors at local level. We would remind those who pay annually that under rule clues should be paid in advance and not in arrears. Also, under Rule 15, any member being in arrears for five weeks is answerable to his studio, or laboratory, or to their Committee. Further, with the expiration of a further three weeks, subject to appealing in writing to the General Council to be made within seven days of the decision of the local Committee, the names of persons involved can be erased from the books of the Association and they may be considered as A. C. T. T. PRESENT U 11 THE WAKE TO BE HELD AT THE CENTURY HOTEL FORTY AVENUE, WEMBLEY FRIDAY, 14th SEPT. 1956 "Eatj drink, and be merry, for tomorrow ye die." Francois Villon LIGHT REFRESHMENTS LICENSED BAR Extension applied for DANCING 8.0 p.m. 1.0 a.m. TICKETS 5/ ADMIT ONE In my notes last mor»th I wrote that the Sound Section had raised the question regarding all-in contracts. It has been pointed out to me that all sections have raised the same query, therefore I am glad to make this correction. During this month, Head Office lapsed members. It is felt that in a lot of cases it is forgetfulness on the part of members, and not a deliberate attempt to avoid paying subscriptions that leads to lapsing. It is also the duty of members to approach the Collector or Steward and not leave it to the officials concerned to chase members for subscriptions. Of course, as members know, letters go out from our Records Department reminding people that they are in arrears. The reply to one of these reminders is worth quoting. It says : " I resigned four months ago on the principle that as a British subject I am entitled to think for myself and am opposed to any movement which robs mankind of that right. I am now a free man, although I am paying a price — working longer hours with less pay, and although life is hard 1 am happy to be free." Comment would be superfluous! Those of you who have had occasion to come to Head Office and have made an enquiry on the ground floor will be interested to know that the very attractive brunette who answers your queries, known to Head Office as Sylvia, is leaving us to enter the entertainment industry. She will be joining the Windmill Theatre on the 8th October under the name of Lynne Gray. I am sure we 'wish her every success in her new career and hope that in the not too distant future we may see her appearing at the Studios. Members who have met Sid Varney, of the E.T.U., who was Treasurer of the F.I.E.C. and Shop Steward at Ealing, will be sorry to learn that he was killed in a motor accident. We take this opportunity to extend to his family our sincere sympathy. During my visits to TV House to discuss trade union problems, I came across this story : " Some bright lad approached a TV producer with an idea for a script on a ' human drama '. He explained to the producer that he had a marvellous story full of dramatic family conflict. Parents had twins; one wished to be a jet pilot and the other a concert pianist. The producer did not quite see where the dramatic conflict came in. The bright lad informed him that he had an entirely new twist on the story — the twins were Siamese!"