International projectionist (Jan-Dec 1954)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT THE BUREAU of National Affairs, a non-partisan research service, recently announced that paid vacations are now practically universal. The Bureau analyzed 400 current labor-management contracts, covering all fields, and found that paid vacations are provided in 98 percent of union contracts, compared with 90 percent in 1950. The most prevalent vacation formula calls for one week after one year's employment; two weeks after five years' service, and three weeks after 15 years. Vacation as an earned right for workers has become an accepted fact in unionized industries. • Frank Kinsora, president of Detroit Local 199 for the past 20 years, has taken over the duties of ailing Roger Kennedy, the Local's business representative. Kennedy has been in failing health for the past few years, but was able to take care of his ofi&cial duties until recently when his illness took a serious turn. • The wage committee for Local 324, Albany, N. Y., recently concluded negotiations for a new contract providing members of the Local with $4 weekly wage increases, retroactive to September 1, 1953. A special feature of the new pact calls for an additional $7.75 per week when 3-D features are shown. lA Representative Joseph Basson assisted the Union officials in the negotiations. • AFL unions have contributed $90,000 to the Truman Memorial Library at Grandview, Mo. It is estimated that the library will cost $1,750,000. AFL President George Meany is one of the trustees of the Harry S. Truman Library, Inc. • Herbert AUer, business representative for Cameramen's Local 659, Hollywood, Calif., recently charged that documentary films are being produced for the U. S. State Department and the U. S. Armed Forces by non-union civilians, who have been given motion picture contracts by these government agencies. "Using non-union civilians to make pictures in this country for the State Department and Armed Forces is comparable to using prison labor to escape paying union labor scales," he stated. AUer promised to launch an investigation to find out if We wish to extend our thanks to our many friends throughout the Alliance who so graciously remembered us with their beautiful cards during the Holiday Season. the purpose of this policy is to "undermine unions." He is arranging an early meeting with lA President Walsh for the purpose of further exploring the situation and taking necessary measures to counteract this policy. • A report in the exhibitor trade press relative to the decision handed down by the American Arbitration Board in the controversy between Los Angeles Local 150 and the Southside Theatres and the Fanchon & Marco circuit anent 3-D showings was so slanted as to appear in favor of the exhibitors. The following explanation, forwarded to this department by Charles Vencill, secretary-treasurer of the Local, puts a slightly different light on the ruling, to wit: "Our contract provides for arbitration on conditions within the contract," states Vencill. "Southside Theatres and Fanchon & Marco tried to arbitrate something that was not in the contract, charging violation of certain clauses which in no way pertained to 3-D because there was nothing in the contract that mentioned 3-D. "The Local held that the contract covered only flat pictures because at the time of the negotiations, 3-D was unknown and not discussed. Southside Theatres and Fanchon & Marco wanted to substitute arbitration for negotiations. The Local held that 3-D was not arbitrative under the terms of the contract. The Arbitration Board on a 2 to 1 decision upheld the Local's contention that the contract calling for one projectionist applied only to flat pictures and that 3-D showings were subject to further negotiations." • Local 400, Alexandria, La., reached an agreement with the management of the Joy Twin Drive-In and the Joy Drive-In theatres in which the projectionists were given a 7% percent weekly wage increase, effective January 2, 1954. Representing the Local at the negotiations were W. Martin Lip LOCAL 306 MEMBERS BRING HOLIDAY CHEER TO HOSPITAL PATIENTS Members of the Movie Social Club of Kings County, which is comprised of members of New York 306, at the Hospital of St. Giles the Cripple in Brooklyn, N. Y., on Christmas day where they distributed gifts and brought entertainment to the crippled children. Harry Garfman (center), the Brooklyn and Queens business representative for Local 306, devotes much of his spare time to help bring a little sunshine into the lives of these unfortunate shut-ins. Club members assisting Garfman, as shown above are, left to right: Burt Sutter, Murray Berlof, Harry Weinberg, and Irving Meltzer. 20 INTERNATIONAL PROJECTIONIST • JANUARY 1954