Film and TV Technician (1957)

May 1958 FILM & TV TECHNICIAN 277 Lab Topics PROGRESS ON DERMATITIS Following discussions between the F.L.A. and A.C.T.T. Negotiating Committees it is found that both sides are genuinely interested in the problem of maintaining complete freedom from Dermatitis among Laboratory employees. It is very encouraging to know that the employers have given this item a lot of deep thought. This particular disease happens to be one in which it appears that the medical profession is very divided as to the best methods of protecting persons exposed to the known hazards and sources of contagion. It is thus very difficult to lay down absolutely water-tight methods of safety for everybody. Here let me stress that all persons with any knowledge of this complaint are agreed that operators cannot wash too well or too often with good soap and clean water during their working hours. Asked to Report In line with the above, it is agreed that the Senior Medical Inspector of Factories be asked to look at the measures of protection used in the three major colour laboratories, in company with the Union Medical Officer and the medical officer of the company concerned, with a view to submitting a report for the benefit of both sides. One member at Denham Laboratories, as reported by Cyril Sparres at the end of these " Topics ", having contacted Dermatitis, has been receiving full pay during his absence and at the same time will not lose his rights to normal sickness benefit as provided for by our Agreement. That is very much in line with the requirements of the Laboratories section. At the Laboratories shop stewards' committee meeting held on Monday, March 17th, being the first meeting after the A.G.M., Miss Daphne Le Brun, our Secretary, was re-elected for, I believe, her fourth term of office. George irons is again Vice-Chairman, with myself Chairman. George, as we all know, has been on the Lab. Committee for very many years and as this year is A.C.T.T.'s Silver Jubilee, members such as he are well able to think back over the years with a feeling of great pride when they realise that all their time and effort spent on ■Edited By ALF COOPER behalf of the Union has played a major part in making our organisation the success it is. Bert Craik, our Senior Organiser, is writing at some length elsewhere in this issue, about the Union's 25 years of life and I have no doubt in my mind that being Bert he will really soft pedal the enormous contribution which he himself has made to this success, not only as a full-time organiser but as a laboratory employee working on the various committees within A.C.T.T. in its early days. Charley Sparkes, the Den. Labs, night steward has, unfortunately, been ill during the last couple of weeks. I understand he has been ordered by his doctor to take things a little easier for a short while. We all hope that he will soon be quite fit; in the meantime, Bob Harding will carry on the job of Journal Reporter for his colleagues. Many thanks Charley for your contributions. KAY'S LABORATORIES report : Just a short while ago, four members of Kay's staff were having their tea-break, and their conversation worked round to the old favourite question " How long have you been here? " — and much later in the day, after a little thought on this question, it really strikes one that Time awaits no man, and the years roll by, and before you know where you are — you have become one of the Elite of Old Timers. Take for example Sam Williams, chargehand developer of the negative and positive departments. He was a " brand new boy " way back in 1921, and now has a steady 37 years behind him. Believe it or not, he was engaged on a probationary period and tells us he hopes to be permanently engaged on the job in the near future, as he never was informed that he could keep at his work for the next 37 odd years. On the " Dry Side " of the Laboratory, and into the Grading Department, we have H. Wallbank, with a score of 29 years, and with him Luke Slow (he even remembered the date, August 6th, 1927), a very steady 31 years! Also on the same job is Eric Edwards with 26 years. Turning from Grading to Printing, one finds Sid Cooper, Foreman Printer, who has had his finger on most of the printing projects which have developed at Kay's and he is now " printing out " his thirtieth year. Bert Maskel, of the Sensitometric Department, is reading a steady 26, and along with him (just those few years ago) four other " youngsters " came through the front entrance of the firm, Les Webb and Les Morris of the 16mm. Printing Departments, Bill Jackson and Frank Lawman of the Negative Developing, making up the four. On the Colour Side of the job, Bill Gorgen and L. Andrews of the Colour Developing, both share a round 31 years, and in the Printing Room of the Colour Department Jim Mann boasts of 27 years. Not forgetting the female element of Kay's, we have Miss Emmie Porter, who casually mentions 32 years (Negative Cutting Room) and, in the same department, Miss Nora Edwards and Miss Ann Nichols score just over twenty years each. Quite a number of the staff not mentioned here, range between 15 and 20 years' service, so to close this " Service line shoot " just one word to the youngsters now joining the trade, " keep at it — time soon goes by ". C. Sparkes of DEN. LABS writes : I am sorry to have to report ( Continued on 'par/e 280 )