International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1946)

claims certificates and affidavits, knowing that these were fraudulent statements." The Higgins group is now faced with a Federal Grand Jury investigation of its wartime activities. • We should like to clarify an item (hat appeared in these pages last month anent the new agreement signed between New York City Local 306 and the Independent Theatre Owners Association. Despite the fact that the existing contract had another year to run (August 1947), the union officials, taking into consideration the rapid rise in living costs, reopened wage negotiations with the ITOA with the result that a new contract was agreed upon giving the men an increase of 15% retroactive to May 1. 1946. 15 months prior to the expiration of the original contract. Provisions were also made in the new contract for the reopening of wage negotiations in September 1948, with the stipulation that only "upward" wage discussions would be permitted. The exhibitors also agreed to take up with the union officials in 1948 the matter of social and welfare benefits for their projectionist employes. This agreement was reached prior to the address of William Green. A. F. of L. president, at the recent Chicago A. F. of L. Convention in which he urged that all union contracts carry such provisions. Herman Gelber. president; Steve DTnzillo, acting New York business agent, and Ben Scher, Brooklyn business agent, negotiated for Local 306. In our opinion these men did a fine job and are deserving of a vote of thanks by the membership. 25 years ago — October 1921 • "In my opinion, high wages are the most economical thing in industry," said Charles A. Eaton, manager of the Industrial Relations Department of General Electric Company's National Lamp Works, in a statement to the press. . . . Road calls were issued against the Valentine Theatre in Defiance. Ohio and the Crawford Theatre in Wichita, Kans. . . . The "open shop" movement suffered another setback when the Railroad Board declared that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company had to deal with labor unions as organizations. . . . Supreme Court Judge Selah B. Strong of Brooklyn, N. Y., denounced the opposition of organized labor to the ""open shop" as un-American and not to be tolerated by the American people. . . . The Burlesque Wheels complained of poor business for the past season and tried to get the performers to consider wage reductions. . . . Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce estimated that $20,000,000 was invested by the picture companies in properties and studios. The film industry was credited with a weekly payroll of $500,000, lead ing the list of some 3300 industries con sidered in its report. . . . Because of the opposition of theatre owners in Danville. \ a., the I. A. Local in that city was compelled to disband. The efforts of the International Office were renewed, however, with the result thai the local was reorganized and a satisfactory agreement reached with the exhibitors. The local —No. 563 — is still operating. ... An argument ensued between San Francisco Local 162 and I. A. President Jim Lemke because of a letter sent out by the Keith interests. The letter was termed "scurrilous" by Lemke. . . . George H. Jones was secretarv of Toronto Local 173, an office he still holds. . . . The United Textile Workers sent about forty organizers into the Southern area for the purpose of conducting an extensive organizing campaign. . . . The road show "Not Tonight. Josephine" closed suddenly owing I. A. members $395.62. . . . New York City theatres were assessed a valuation of $53,215.000— with more theatres to be built. . . . Among I. A. local unions signing one-year-contracts were the following: 136. Hamilton, Ohio: 182, Boston, Mass.; Ill and 256. Lawrence. 111. ; 89 and 382, Holyoke, Mass.: 96. Worcester, Mass.; 198. Bangor. Maine: 522. Quincy, Mass.; 392. Kewanee, 111.; 482, Champaign, 111.; 202, Waterloo, Iowa; 575, Pottstown, Penna.; 318 fnow 488) Harrisburg. Penna.; 307, Philadelphia; 394, Appleton, Wis.; 63, Winnipeg, Canada; 244, Newark, N. J.; 616, Meridian, Miss.; 619, Alexandria, Va.: 297. San Diego. Calif., 540, Baton Rouge, La.; 102, Evansville, Ind.; 338, Watertown. N. Y.. and many others. Most of these contracts were negotiated by I. A. representatives, then called organizers. ® Harry Barco, business representative for St. Louis Local 143, reports the signing of new contracts with the two leading supply houses in St. Louis, namely, National Theatre Supply Co. and the Cine Supply Co. The contracts call for the hiring of Local 143 men to supervise the installation of all projection and television equipment sold by these supply houses, and to instruct in the operation and maintenance of such Horry Barco equipment. The contracts are to run for two years, beginning October 1, 1946, and are based on a fortyhour week. The salary for the first year is $125 per week, per man, and for the second year $150 per week, per man. Additional features of the contracts are two-weeks vacations with pay each year; all expenses paid when outside the local's jurisdiction, and an allowance ol bj pi i mile to each man foj the use -I his car when on duty. George McDonald, member ol the local since 1910, was chosen to fill the position with the Cine Supply Co., and Joseph Schrempp, local member since 1908. was assigned to the National Theatre Supply Co. These men were chosen because of their outstanding qualifications for this type of work, stales Barco, who is a firm believer in placing the right man on the right job. The 16-mm field also is receiving considerable attention from Local 143 officials. One difficulty the local had to overcome was the competition offered 16-mm companies by union men owning 16-mm equipment. The situation aroused the resentment of the companies who refused to engage men who were in competition with them. This has been eliminated and today no Local 143 man is permitted to show 16-mm pictures unless the job comes through the local union offices. A more cooperative spirit now exists between the 16-mm companies and the union, with the result that there is a steady increase of work in this field for the members. Here, too, the men chosen for 16-mm work are specialists and concentrate on that type work. Again, it has been proved that the right man for the right job pays dividends. At the present time Local 143 holds exclusive contracts with four 16-mm companies in St. Louis. The latest to sign up is the Swank Motion Pictures, Inc., the largest portable employer in that city. This contract calls for the engagement of a full-time projectionist at $80 per week, with a maximum of ten projections per week. Two weeks vacation with pay each year is one of the features of this contract. The foregoing merely bears out Barco's contention that if the individual locals would bestir themselves and make serious efforts to organize their territories, the 16-mm field would not present an insurmountable problem. St. Louis, Los Angeles, Cleveland, Chicago, and manyother I. A. local unions throughout the country tackled this field with considerable success and there is no reason why all local unions can't be equally successful. ® Bob Dennis and Gene Mueller, members of San Antonio Local 407, are building their own motion picture theatre in San Antonio. Bob. whose brother John is business agent of the local, works as projectionist at the Texas Theatre, a position he has held for a good many years; and Gene, who is treasurer of the local, is employed at the Majestic Theatre. Bob and Gene were partners in a (Continued on page 33) INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST October, 1946 19