International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1947)

Tom O'Brien: British Film Firebrand WHEN the 75% tax was announced in England, levied at the importation of American motion pictures, a stocky, keen-eyed member of Parliament rose to his feet and with all the oratory of the Irish plus the poetry of the Welsh protested loudly. It would mean the loss of jobs for those he represented in British labor. It was a dangerous thing politically, however, because he was Tom O'Brien, M. P. for the Labor Party. That was the Tom O'Brien who last September came to the United States to meet with I. A. officials to discuss mutual problems, and who left behind him here many admirers and friends. But just who is this Tom O'Brien? Forty-six years ago in Llanelly, South Wales, Tom O'Brien was born of an Irish father and a Welsh mother. He was schooled in Llanelly, but is really a self-educated man, an eager reader and a student of political economy. He always says that the labor unions have to know as much about business as the employers. For 26 years Tom O'Brien has been a full-time official of his union. He is now General Secretary of the National Association of Theatrical and Kine Employees (NATKE) and a member of the Trade Union Congress General Council, parent body for all of the leading unions. O'Brien first joined the old Workers' Union and the National Union of General and Municipal Workers before he went into the theatrical industry in 1919. It was in that year that he joined NATKE. J. P. McEvoy, Roving Editor for Reader's Digest perhaps best symbolized how Tom O'Brien rose so fast, both in politics and in union work, when he said: "Tom, I can see why you can handle both the employers and employees in this mad business. It's because you are a better actor than any one of them." This is true. In Britain, O'Brien is known as one of the most dynamic and The ubiquitous Tom O'Brien, M.P. powerful speakers. He uses every trick of oratory — but backs it up with sound and solid judgment and knowledge. Tops His Craft at 31 His labor record is long but simple. He became District Organizer for South Wales and the west of England for NATKE in 1921, and three years later was promoted to be National Organizer. In 1932 he was elected to be General Secretary, the chief full-time executive — the youngest General Secretary of a national trade union in England. He still holds this record. In 1940, during the war, O'Brien was elected to the General Council of the Trade Union Congress and has been a member ever since. He now serves on the Council's Organizing Committee; Trades Councils Joint Consultative Committee; Rationing and Prices Committee; Scientific Committee ; Non-Manual Workers' Advisory Comittee; represents the Council on the Executive Committee of the National Playing Fields Association; the British Workers' Sports Association; the Workers' Film Association (of which he is a past President) ; and during the war was on the Advisory Committee to the Minister of Information. Among his other posts are membership in the Cinematograph Films Council, and he is also President of the Federation of Theatre Unions, which comprise the British Actors Equity Association, the Musicians' Union, and NATKE. He is also President of the Film Industry Employees' Council, which is composed of the Association of CineTechnicians, Film Artists' Association, the Musicians' Union and NATKE. In 1944, during the war, he was elected by the Trade Union Congress General Council to be sent with Mr. Will Lawther, head of the powerful British Mine Workers', to Italy to advise the Italian workers on the establishment of a democratic trade union movement. This was during the fighting, and the two unionists went up front and really saw action. In 1945 he was one of the British Trade Union Congress representatives to attend the first Congress of the World Federation of Trade Unions in Paris. The next year — in April, 1946 — he was sent as the British Trade Union delegate representing all unions to the Czechoslovak Trade Union Congress in Prague. Last year he came to America as the first post-war delegate from the Trade Union Congress to attend the convention of the A. F. of L. Elected M.P.; Employer Tribute In 1945, in the general election which overthrew Winston Churchill and put the Labor Party into power, Tom O'Brien was elected to Parliament. It was a three-cornered contest, but O'Brien won by a majority of 15,000 votes. Not only were the Unionists behind him, but the ex-servicemen as well. Tom O'Brien himself is a war veteran, having run away from home in 1915 to join the British Army and to serve on active duty in the famous Dardanelles Campaign when only 15 years of age. O'Brien is the father of four children, the eldest son having served in the R. A. F. in the Middle East during the last war. He is known as the firebrand of the film industry. But the most powerful figure in the film industry, J. Arthur Rank, once said about Tom O'Brien: "Tom is on the other side of the fence, but he is an honest man and he is for the good of the business. You can sit down with Tom and talk out the problems and you can depend on knowing where you stand and having a forthright answer from him at all times. Tom O'Brien has been great for the unionsgreat for the workers — and therefore great for the motion picture industry in Britain." That, from his opposition, is truly a tribute. IN THE SPOTLIGHT (Continued from page 21) sick leave. . . . Local 95, Ottawa, Canada, celebrated its 20th anniversary. . . . Beaumont, Texas, Local 183 reported that a three-year effort to unionize the theatres was successfully terminated with the signing up of all theatres in its jurisdiction. . . . Immediately after attending the California State Federation of Labor meeting, Representative Newman left for Arizona to take care of matters that required his attention. . . . Motion picture theatres in New York City reported increased patronage. . . . Representative Magnolia adjusted the difficulties that arose between Local 396, Binghamton, N. Y. and a theatre manager regarding salary to be paid a relief man. A compromise was reached and the matter satisfactorily settled. . . . • IA projectionists will man the machines showing motion pictures at all meetings of the United Nations held in and around Greater New York. Contracts were issued to New York City Local 306, represented by Ben Scher, and Nassau County Local 640, represented by William Nagengast, giving each projectionist $25 per day, on a sixhour day basis. It is expected that many more projection rooms will be utilized by the United Nations within the next year or two, thus providing more jobs for our men. Order Your Copy of Projectionists ' &oo SERVICE MANUAL 24 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • October 1947