Film and TV Technician (1957)

78 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN May 1957 General Council in Session "THE DREYFUS CASE" FOREIGN TECHNICIANS. Because of the unsatisfactory outcome of negotiations with M.-G.-M. over the employment of two foreign technicians on The Dreyfus Case, and because the company could give no undertaking to employ a British Producer or Director on future productions, the Executive Committee had agreed to recommend to the General Council that action be taken to enforce our policy that both the Producer and Director shall be British on all quota films made by companies not covered by the B.F.P.A. Quota of Foreign Technicians, until these companies jointly met us to negotiate some form of quota agreement. To enforce this policy the Council unanimously agreed to advise the Ministry of Labour and the main American companies immediately that A.C.T.T. was issuing instructions to members in Studios and Laboratories not to work on a Quota film for any such company which goes on the floor after August 1st, 1957, unless all the technicians are British and members of A.C.T.T. or the production has received clearance from A.C.T.T. A number of members contributed helpful suggestions to further the campaign, and it was agreed that a leaflet and a Press Statement be prepared on the matter of foreign technicians, leading up to a further deputation to the Ministry of Labour. H-BOMB TESTS. The United Nations Association, to which the A.C.T.T. is affiliated, had written, asking for support in calling on the Government to : 1. Suspend the present series of tests, and 2. Put forward to the Disarmament Sub-Committee proposals for the cessation of all tests. The Council agreed to send out a circular to all Shop Stewards, urging Shops and individual members to make their opposition to the H-bomb tests felt. T.U.C. MEMORIAL BUILDINGLOANS. The Acting General Secretary reported that, owing to the continual rise in costs over the outstanding estimates of capital expenditure in connection with the T.U.C. Memorial Building, a sum of roughly £72,000 remains to be raised. The T.U.C. have decided, therefore, to invite all Unions to make loans in units of £1,000 repayable with interest at three per cent per annum within a period of five years as approved by Congress. At present the T.U.C. have in mind, among other things, that any union in financial difficulty should be able, if they so desire, to obtain at least part repayment of the loan at any time during the five years. The F. & G.P. recommended that we be prepared to make a loan of £1,000. The Executive agreed to this recommendation. OFFICIAL APPOINTMENTS FILM EDITOR (known locally as Film Production Officer) required by the Federal Government of Nigeria for the Film Production Unit of the Information Service on contract for 18/24 months in the first instance. Salary according to experience in scale (including inducement addition) £1,170 rising to £1,488 a year. Gratuity at rate £150 a year. Outfit Allowance £60. Liberal leave on full salary. Free passages for officer and wife. Grant up to £150 annually for maintenance of children in U.K. Free passages for children up to cost of two adult return fares. (It is thus often possible for an officer whose children are being educated in the U.K. to arrange for them to spend two or more school vacations in West Africa with free passages). Candidates must be experienced in editing to final stage both 16mm. and 35mm. documentary and educational films and must have the ability to lay dialogue, commentary, music, and effects tracks. A knowledge of film processing would be an advantage. Write to the Crown Agents, 4 Millbank, London, S.W.I. State age, name in block letters, full qualifications and experience, and quote M3B/35002/CY. USE OF LIGHTING EQUIPMENT BY MEMBERS OF A.C.T.T. A complaint was received from the E.T.U. against a member of A.C.T.T., who it was alleged intended using his own lighting equipment on a job without the services of a production electrician. It was necessary to call a joint meeting with the E.T.U. and the member concerned present. The meeting was a friendly one and the matter was sorted out satisfactorily. The E.T.U. representative, however, said that where members of A.C.T.T. themselves own lighting equipment and engage electricians they should do so through the E.T.U. office and not from any other source. LEAGUE FOR DEMOCRACY IN GREECE asked for the support of A.C.T.T. in demanding the release of Trade Union leaders imprisoned in Greece. The Executive agreed that a cable be sent as suggested by the League. B.B.C./E.T.U. A dispute had arisen between the B.B.C. and the E.T.U on the operation of the Console at Riverside Studios, and the BB.C. had demanded that individual Trade Unionists should contract out of a freely negotiated industrial agreement and abrogate their rights and duties as members of the Union. A.C.T.T., Equity and the Musicians' Union had been invited to meet the E.T.U. to discuss this and they had jointly asked the B.B.C. to withdraw the ultimatum and to reach a speedy settlement with the E.T.U. to prevent an extension of the dispute which might affect members of other Unions. The E.T.U. had now asked A.C.T.T. to issue a statement that the operation of the Console is the job of an E.T.U. member. It was decided to issue a statement that A.C.T.T. had never laid claim with the B.B.C. to the mechanical operation of electrical lighting equipment, including the lighting console, and a letter of explanation should be sent to our members in the B.B.C. who were Lighting Engineers. A. B.C. TELEVISION. Paddy Leech spent a day in the Manchester Studios of this company, and it is hoped to develop our membership here. The Company is using an exceptionally large number of trainees, who are responsible for putting out programmes. The