International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1947)

We believe that every man is entitled to have at least one day a week for himself, and if he is expected to put in a seven-day work week, he should be properly compensated for giving up his day of rest. • A stiff campaign is being waged for the presidency of New York Local 306, with Joe Basson, I. A. representative and former 306 president, opposing Herman Gelber, who has held office since 1942. The election, which will be held the end of this month, promises to be a bitterly contested one. • It is not every Local Union official who, at the end of the year, can point with pride to a list of achievements for the past twelve-month period. In his recent summary report for the year 1947, Gene Atkinson, business manager for Chicago Local 110, fulfilled promises made to his membership to present them with an honest and unbiased report of the Local's activities and finances at the end of each year. We had the good fortune to see a copy of his recent report and we were deeply impressed with the tremendous strides made by the Local under the leadership of this fearless and energetic union official. Summed up briefly, here are a few of the accomplishments Atkinson reported for 1947: He organized new jobs for his members by (1) placing a Local 110 man in charge of 16-mm pictures shown at the Chicago State Hospital at a salary of $500 per month for a 40-hour week, two weeks vacation with pay, and one day per month sick leave; (2) successfully retaining all Local 110 men at race tracks within the Local's jurisdiction; (3) strengthened the Local's position in the 16 and 35-mm portable field throughout the City of Chicago; (4) placing two members of the unio^ with the B & K circuit as supervisors of projection equipment installations at a salary Eugene Atkinson :««««««««««««:«^«««5^««^««j««««««si:^:«s£ ««:««« • • • ^rrolicluu K-ireelinaA * • • LOCAL UNION NO. 279, 1. A. T. S. E. HOUSTON TEXAS of $10,400 per year, per man, and (5) three of the major theatre supply houses employ Local 110 men as supervisors of projection installations, each man receives $150 per week. An agreement was reached with the B & K circuit regarding the shut-down of the Drake and Admiral Theatres. Projectionists were returned to their jobs and back salaries for time they were locked out of the theatres were paid by the circuit. Due to the efforts of Atkinson, Senate Bill 435, State of Illinois, was passed reclassifying motion picture operators to motion picture projectionists, thereby changing the projectionists' classification from "laborer" to "skilled technical craftsman." Television station WKBK employs a Local 110 projectionist. The Local has complete television jurisdiction in Greater Chicago and is prepared to cover all available jobs. By combining the office of secretarytreasurer with that of the assistant business agent, the Local saved $13,650 in salaries in one year. Working and sanitary conditions in projection rooms brought to a high level — running water and toilet facilities installed where none existed before, rooms painted, floors covered, old and worn projection room equipment replaced, proper ventilation provided, etc. Projectionists showing special features at increased admission prices receive a higher scale of wages. Despite the pessimism of many, Atkinson's insistence upon paid vacations and paid "prep" time has produced results. These features are now incorporated in feajantt 0 (SmtmrjH THAD C. BARROWS 25/30 CLUB BOSTON LOCAL 182 all the Local's contracts. Also, in keeping with the established policy of the Local, generous contributions were made to the following worthy organizations: Red Cross, Community Fund, Jewish Welfare Fund, Boystown, and the Crippled Children's Shrine Hospital. Atkinson is now working on a retirement and disability plan for the members, and expects to have it in working order no later than April 1948. To sum up, we believe he not only embarked upon a pretty ambitious program for 1947, but he actually accomplished all he set out to do. • Jack Stringer and Charlie Hallet, members of Toronto Local 173, have been close friends for many years and are tagged the "gold-dust twins" of Toronto. One seldom sees one without the other, and from reports gathered on our recent visit to their town, they are both equally poor card players. • At a meeting of 105 A. F. of L. presidents in Washington several weeks ago, I. A. President Walsh was named to the 30-man administrative committee for the newly organized Labor's Educational and Political League. The League will ask each union member for a voluntary contribution of one dollar to help fight the economic effects of the Taft-Hartley Act and to defeat other anti-labor legislation. According to a statement issued by President Walsh, the I. A. will form a set-up similar to that established by the A. F. of L., and will have a political committee in each Local Union. We hope every I. A. man will cooperate with his Local's committee and give his fullest support to this important project. Now is not the time for union politicians to start so-called "economy drives." Let every man get in and pitch for victory in our fight to defeat labor's foes — we are all in this, we either swim or sink together. • The International Projection Society of Toronto held its annual election the early part of this month re-electing Jack Hills, president, Roy O'Connor, vice (Continued on page 33) INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • December 1947 23