International projectionist (Nov-Dec 1933)

December 1933 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST 21 I. P. Investigation Shows 61 Codes Follow Established Policy of the N. R. A. Relative to Burden of Costs for Reduction In Working Hours — Picture Code Alone is Silent On This Point r I ''HE following citations from 61 codes submitted to and approved by ■* President Roosevelt between July 9 and November 17, 1933, contain a general provision to the effect that the compensation for employment shall not be reduced even though hours of labor are reduced. Most expressive in outlining the established policy of the NRA with respect to the maintenance of wages, although higher than the minimum and even though the hours of labor are reduced, is the following excerpt from the Hotel Industry Code: "The weeky wage of all classes of employees receiving more than the minimum wages prescribed in this article shall not be reduced from the rates existing on June 15, 1933, because of any reduction in the number of working hours of such employees." So far as this publication has been able to determine, the motion picture code is the only code which is silent on this question — although official "interpretations" have been issued by organized groups stating that the financial burden of the overage in hours beyond the 40-hour maximum shall be borne by the worker. This list of citations is the result of an exhaustive investigation by International Projectionist into the question of who shall bear the cost of the such overages in hours beyond a code maximum, is copyrighted by this publication, and may not be reproduced without appropriate credit. This listing gives first the name of the industry code, which is followed by the reference relating directly to the question of the maintenance of wages even though the hours of labor are reduced. These 61 code citations will be augmented by this publication as other codes are approved. 1. Cotton Textile Industry — Last Section: Amendment to Article XIII, Approved November 8, 1933. 2. Shipbuilding & Ship Repairing Industry — Article IV (b). 3. Wool Textile Industry — Article II. 3rd paragraph. 4. Coat & Suit Industry — 5th Section — last paragraph, Caption, "Both Areas". 5. Corset and Brassiere Industry — Article 3 (b). 6. Lumber and Timber Products Industry — Administration Report of August 12, 1933, submitted by Dudley Cates, Asst. Administrator. Article III, Section 4, 8th paragraph. 7. Petroleum Industry — Article II, Section 3, last sentence of first paragraph. 8. Legitimate Full Length Dramatic & Musical Theatrical — The Administrative report to the President dated August 14, 1933, submitted by General Johnson, under the Caption, "The Code," second paragraph. 9. Fishing Tackle Industry — Article II. Section 3 (c). 10. Mens Clothing Industry — Article IV, 3rd paragraph. 11. Hosiery Industry — Article IV. Section 7, first two sentences. 12. Rayon & Synthetic Yarn Industry — Article V (b), 1st sentence. 13. Leather Industry — Article IV, Section 3. 14. Motion Picture Laboratory — Article IV, Section 3 (e), (Rates of Pay). 15. Textile Bag Industry — Article IV (d). 16. Underwear and Allied Products — Part II, 4 (b), 1st sentence. 17. Bankers' Industry — Article VI, Section 3. 18. Motor Vehicle Retailing Trade — Article III, B, Section 4, last sentence; Article II, B, Section 8. 19. Building Supplies Trade — Article IV, 1st paragraph. 20. Farm Equipment Industry — Article V, Section 2, C, whole paragraph. 21. Luggage & Fancy Leather Goods — Article IV, Section 3, whole paragraph. 22. Ice Industry — Article VI, 2nd sentence. 23. Women's Belt Industry — Article IV, Section 3, 2nd sentence. 24. Mutual Savings Banks — Article VI, Section 3, whole paragraph. (Continued at foot of next page) appear elsewhere in this code section. The results of this investigation are startling. Every one of the 61 codes examined by staff workers for this publication to date reveals a general provision to the effect that there shall be no reduction in wages even though the hours of work are reduced. Some codes, notably that for the Hotel Industry, go a step further and provide that there shall be no cut in wages for a reduced working week even though the wages in effect on June 15, 1933, are above the minimum fixed by the code. This interesting citation follows: "The weekly wages of all classes of employees receiving more (italics ours), than the minimum wages prescribed in this article shall not be reduced from the rates existing on June 15, 1933, because of any reduction in the number of working hours of such employees." The motion picture code is silent on this point; although an official release from President Elliott of the LA. advises all affiliated unions that the burden of such costs must be borne by the worker. Relief Probable If Enough Protests Accumulate Despite this official pronouncement from LA. headquarters, evidences are not lacking that this feature of the code labor sections is in for a stormy passage. Advices from all over the country indicate that this matter will be made the basis of an immediate appeal to the various sectional and local Compliance Boards, provided the employers show no disposition to either willingly make an adjustment or submit the matter to arbitration. International Projectionist advocates editorially in this issue that a ruling be sought from sectional boards. Unorganized projectionists appear to be hit hard by this interpretation of the cede, and it is certain that not much time will elapse before such bodies, unhampered by organization rulings, will bring this whole matter of overages out into the open. In view of the results of the investigation by this publication which accompany this article, in which 61 industry codes are shown to have definitely provided for an adjustment on the overage in hours, close observers of code operations are inclined to believe that the picture code in its present form cannot possibly stand up against the many protests which are expected to pour into NRA headquarters from all over the country. The attempt of this publication to secure an official expression of opinion from the LA. on this point proved unavailing. However, it was learned on good authority that the recent official