International projectionist (Jan 1943-Dec 1944)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT AN IMPORTANT ruling was recently handed down by the Appeals Division of the War Labor Board overriding the regional War Labor Board's refusal to okay a wage contract between Local No. 344. Olympia, Wash., and the local theatre exhibitors, which stipulated that projectionists should be paid for preparatory time spent in a projection room. The decision of the Appeals Division reads as follows: "On the basis of the new information submitted, the Appeals Division granted your appeal with the understanding that the operators actually report for work one half hour before the performance and perform the specific duties lifted by you. The basis of this decision is that workers are entitled to straight time pay for such hours actually worked." The officers of Local 344 are to be commended for their determined efforts to overcome the widespread practice among exhibitors of having their projectionists report for work from one half to one hour earlier than called for in their contracts so as to prepare the show for the day, without compensation for the extra time. The ruling of the Appeals Division sets an important precedent that should greatly interest all other I. A. locals throughout the country. • Stanley Creech, Chief Petty Officer in the Canadian Navy and member of Local No. 348, Vancouver, Canada, paid us another of his surprise visits. For the past five years Stan has been roaming the high seas as a member of that daring band of men who make up the crews of the corvettes. He has seen plenty of action during that time, and although he is loath to speak of his own exploits, we understand that hcJias received several citations for bravery under fire. His son. just turned eighteen, has joined the United States Navy — sort of good neighbor policy, eh? # Many of the de luxe New York motion picture theatres forgot their patriotism on New Year's Eve and boosted their admission prices to $2.20. Forgotten were the special rates they boasted of for service men and any soldier, sailor, or marine who wished to see a Broadway movie had to shell out $2.20 or keep moving. Well, $2.20 is a lot of money to pay for a movie that will be shown next week in a neighborhood theatre at a fraction of that price and very few men in uniform were seen at the Broadway theatres that night. No. sir, patriotism cannot compete with the box office till! ® The boys in Local No. 199, Detroit, want to advise all that are interested that Cleveland Local No. 160 is not the only union that is Masonically inclined. In proof of their claim they list the following officers of Daylight Lodge who are also members of 199: Phil Majeske, senior warden; Mike Badarak. junior ivarden; William Swistak (past master), treasurer; Walter Rickens, senior deacon, and Romulus Albu (past master), chaplain. Any others? @ Al Johnstone, I. A. representative, was in a huddle recently with Henry Link, Mobile, Ala., Sam Nelson, Jackson, Tenn.. and Ed Ware of Pensacola. Fla. What's cooking? 9 Maurice Rushworth, secretary of Local No. 181, Baltimore, Md., is doubling up on his duties as projectionist at the New Theatre by working as service engineer for RCA in his spare time. Rushworth was a pretty consistent winner in the recent I. P. Contest of Skill and Wits. • On January 28 a testimonial dinner will be tendered to Mike Berkowitz, well-liked and genial president of the 25-30 Club of New York City. At the recent election, Mike and all the other officers were unanimously elected. Acting as counters and tellers at the election hall and trying to look very busy with not a vote to count were Bill Kunzmann, (National Carbon), P. A. McGuire (National-Simplex-Bludworth), Joe Abrams, and Bob Sanders. 9 According to the latest records of the Census Bureau there are 23,875 projec tionists in the United States. 22,355 of whom are employed and 1,520 unemployed. Why should there be any unemployed projectionists in this country — particularly when the cry of manpower shortage is so persistent? These Census figures show that there is no manpower shortage in the projectionist craft. If this be true, what will the situation be when the war is over and thousands of army and navy trained projectionists flock to the theatres seeking jobs? NOW is the time for all local unions to lay their plans in preparation for the day when the two-man shift will become mandatory in every theatre in the country. NOW is the time for postwar planning that will protect the future of the craft. @ George Gerrard, projectionist at the Strand Theatre. Vancouver, Canada and member of Local No. 348, has been appointed representative for the Vancouver Civic Employees. He will serve as an arbitrator in the "closed shop" dispute now raging in that part of the country. Gerrard is also vice-president of the Vancouver Central Labor Union. • Here is a tip to pass on to unorganized workers in our industry. At a press conference recently held in Washington. William H. Davis, Chairman of the War Labor Board, was asked how an unorganized worker could get a salary increase under the War Labor Board machinery. "Well," replied Davis, "one way is to join an organization. That is the way I would do it" Just sound common sense, that's all.. © Harry Petty, Local No. 163, Louisville. Ky., was elected president of the Kentucky State Federation of Labor. # We received a very interesting letter from one of our readers, Air Cadet Alvin B. Milchen, who is now stationed at Ellington Field, Texas, in which he describes his experiences and emotions while taking a high altitude test. It is particularly interesting in that the report was written in the decompression chamber and gives a graphic description of 16 UVTER1VATIONAL PROJECTIONIST