Film and TV Technician (1957)

February 1957 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 29 the Council that the company had declared a 20 % redundancy with effect from the following week on the grounds of trade recession in the home and overseas markets. The A.C.T.T. and A.E.U. members in the factory had immediately declared an overtime ban (except for maintenance) and had passed a resolution saying that there should be a 4-day week in place of redundancy; the company had turned this down. Paddy Leech was instructed to take up the matter immediately, and the Council resolved to congratulate the B.A. Shop on its action to combat redundancy, to assure the members of the Council's support and to congratulate the Steward on his reporting of the matter. N.S.S. LABS. Bessie Bond reported that the company was being difficult about operating the recent Laboratory increase. The management said they were in a different category from other laboratories who depend on outside customers to give them work. They existed entirely on their own and the lab. was running at a loss. They have offered 50% of the increase. The Council agreed that the Organiser should press for the payment of the full increase. INDUSTRY TRAINING SCHEME. Bert Craik reported on a letter received from the British Film Academy, requesting a meeting to consider the possibility of reviving a training scheme in the industry. After considerable discussion the E.C. agreed to appoint representatives to the meeting and to ask the Academy for copies of the paper which they have prepared. The representatives were mandated to make clear to the Academy representatives the various reservations A.C.T.T. has on the question of a training scheme. TECHNICAL AND SCIENTIFIC FILMS. A problem had arisen over non-synchronous sound effects for a 16mm. Kodachrome film, Caribou, being made for Priestman and Company Ltd. for nontheatrical use. The Shop Steward confirmed that the company had been experiencing undercutting by other firms, which are not members of the A.S.F.P. and do not operate the Shorts Agreement. On this particular film the clients insisted on sound effects of their cranes at work without being prepared to pay the price of the recording with an A.C.T.T. crew. However, Technical and Scientific went ahead on their clients' terms and now hoped that under all the circumstances their case would be given special consideration. The Shop Steward, Derek Knight, was in attendance at the Executive and made additional points, which he felt should be considered with some sympathy in view nf the good relations which existed with Technical and Scientific and their good record to date as far as strict application of the Shorts Agreement is concerned. The Executive Committee agreed that: (a) The work should not be blacked on this occasion but the company should be given a firm warning that on no account would any such concession be made in future, unless the request for a concession is lodged with the Union before any contractual arrangements with clients are entered into. (b) Those members who were aware of what was being; done and said nothing until their return from location should be reprimanded and reminded that they should notify Head Office immediately anything of this kind occurs unless they have been advised beforehand that such a departure from the provisions of the Shorts Agreement has been approved. (c) A letter of thanks should be sent to the Editor for his keen attention to the principle involved and to the Shop Steward for drawing our attention to the matter. KODAK— APPROACH TO THE MANAGEMENT. It was agreed that the recommendation of the Kodak members should be implemented and Head Office should request a meeting with the Management. AFFILIATIONS. It was agreed to continue affiliation to the Film Industry Sports Association, the Film Industry Employees' Council and the National Federation of Professional Workers. It was also agreed to affiliate to the Manchester and Salford Trades Council on the basis of 90 local members at the cost of 30/ per annum. TV COMPANIES' CUT RATES, It was agreed that Head Office should write to the A.S.F.P., requesting an early meeting to discuss some form of joint action, as suggested by the Shorts and Documentary Section. RECORDING DIALOGUE ON CHILDREN'S FILMS. A long memorandum had been drawn up by the A.S.F.P., following a negotiating meeting with them, which was considered by the E.C. It was agreed that it be referred to the Sound Section for its detailed comments as a matter of urgency, and then reported back to the E.C. A.G.M. EMERGENCY RESOLUTION. The Laboratories Committee, having considered the takeover of Olympic Labs by the Rank Organisation, recommended the tabling by the General Council of an Emergency Resolution on the contraction of laboratories and on monopolies. This was agreed, and the Laboratories Committee was asked to prepare research material for the use of the Union. MEETINGS BETWEEN BFPA AND THREE UNIONS. Bert Craik and Charles Wheeler reported on meetings between A.C.T.T., E.T.U. and N.A.T.K.E. with the BFPA on such subjects as the Cinematograph Bill, conciliation to prevent stoppages and interruptions of production, entertainment tax, spread-over of production, a proposed Casualisation Fund for employees on the film production side of the industry, and the reduction in cinema attendances. The reports were endorsed with thanks to A.C.T.T.'s representatives. Camera Hire (1) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Mirror Shutter. All Cooke Lenses including Series 2., 2Smm., f.1.7. SINGLE FRAME EXPOSURE and Electric Motor Drive. (Available fully adapted for CINEMASCOPE if required.) (2) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Mirror Shutter. Cooke Lenses and 24mm. Angineux Retrofocus. (3) NEWMAN SINCLAIR— Model G. Al1 Cooke Lenses. SINGLE FRAME EXPOSURE and Electric Motor Drive if required. Kingston Tubular and Vinten Light Gyro Tripods. LOCATION CAMERA DOLLYS Metal construction, pneumatic tyres, dropdown jacks, lightweight tracks, etc. S. W. SAMUELSON FINchley I 595