Motion Picture Herald (May-Jun 1945)

OVERTIME BAN HITS Universal Drive BRITISH PRODUCERS Honors Blumberg ACT Laboratory Dispute Serious as Union Putsx Pressure on Studios by PETER BURNUP in London Dreaming of halcyon times ahead, Britain's producers once more have been pulled up with a short, sharp jolt. For more than a year a wages dispute has dragged on between the Association of Film Laboratory Employers and the Association of Cine-Technicans. Originally just a matter of the ACT demanding an all-over pay increase for its members working in process plants, the hub-bub has been allowed to escape into unanticipated arenas of embittered accusation and counter-charge. Moreover, what was once regarded as a completely sectional, minor parochial matter has developed suddenly characteristics of a sore-thumb affecting the whole of the industry's production. For the ACT, determined to bring matters to a head, has now imposed an overtime ban in all branches of production. Too Early to Assess Effect It's early yet to arrive at a statistical appraisal of what the ban will add up to, not only in increased budget costs but in the more important consideration of delayed delivery of negatives. The point is that the ban has been imposed; is loyally accepted by the work people in every studio; will continue, it is reasonable to suppose, until the laboratory employers tender some sort of compromise suggestion in the original dispute, or until the Ministry of Labor intervenes. The ACT, in its new tactic, has delivered an uncommonly shrewd blow. On paper, the loss of an hour's shooting at the end of an orthodox day's work may not appear a matter of particular moment. In reality, it frequently implies another day's work in striking a set on which work has been completed; further consequential delay in building the ensuing set. Also, Saturday afternoon — immemoriably cherished by British labor as its time of relaxation ; devoted often, nevertheless, at special overtime rates, to catching up on a production schedule — is "out" from now on. As are night work and prolonged spells on location. Has Added Three Weeks' Shooting Authoritative estimates are to hand showing that the ban has already added at least three weeks' shooting time to every production now on the studio floors. It's an irony that production units — they've had more than a share of their own labor troubles in the last two years — were in no way concerned with the original quarrel; have been dragged into the foray willy-nilly and in a spirit of considerable resentment. Certainly, the time seems over-ripe for the exercise of discretion in certain quarters; for a little less concern with an exaggerated sense of dignity. Two years ago the ACT received an undertaking from the Laboratory Employers' Association to commence negotiations for a new wage agreement. Discussions were started and eventually the negotiating committees of the two organizations reached a basis of settlement. Difficulties arose, however, when ratification of the draft agreement came before the main body of the employers. Alleges ACT — and objective reporting must concede that the allegation is supported by the facts — the employers, refusing to endorse the action of its own negotiators in certain fundamental respects, wilfully tore up the result of six months' conciliatory endeavor. Points then at issue were the establishment of a "normal" working day (with payment of overtime thereafter), and proposed increases in six of the 50 different working grades in the laboratories. The employers maintained and continue to maintain their right to alter the normal working day from week to week, or, in the case of newsreels, from day to day. Support Not Universal That a deadlock should persist, to the detriment of the whole industry, over matters so manifestly susceptible to conciliation is one of those things the outsider looking in fails to understand. It's a bewilderment shared, moreover, by sections of the disputants themselves. The considerable -Kay group of laboratories, for example, do not support the Employers' Association position. Kay operates two plants in London and one in Glasgow; works in close concert with British Movietonews, the 20th Century-Fox affiliate on this side. Kay has signed the new agreement, retroactive to February 1, 1945. The overtime ban, accordingly, does not operate in their instance. There's a recalcitrant attitude, contrariwise, in other plants. One of the London laboratories seeks to bust the ban by dismissing employees who refuse to work overtime. ACT counters this gambit by pressing for the prosecution in the police courts of the employer concerned; alleging that the high-handed action directly infringes the provisions of the Emergency Powers Orders designed to ensure smooth working in industry during the war and in the peace-time carryover period. Raftery Again Heads UA; All Officers Reelected Edward C. Raftery, president, and all other officers of United Artists were reelected at a meeting of directors Monday in the New York office. The other officers are Gradwell L. Sears, vicepresident in charge of distribution ; George L. Bagnail, vice-president in charge of production ; Harry J. Muller, treasurer; Loyd Wright, secretary; Charles E. Millikan, Paul D. O'Brien, Harry D. Buckley and Mr. Muller assistant secretaries, and Herbert A. Weimer, assistant treasurer. Stockholders also elected directors as follows: Mr. Raftery, Franklin Cole, Isaac Pennypacker, Neil F. Agnew, Milton A. Kramer, Phillip F. Siff, Sidney Chaplin, E. Claude Mills and Rex Dennant. J. Arthur Rank, British miller and film executive, visited with the directors at the close of the meeting. F. W. Allporfs Son Safe Second Lieutenant Alexander W. Allport, son of F. W. Allport, London representative of the Motion Picture Producers Distributors of America, who had been reported missing by the Armv in the European area, was found in a German prison camp and is in good health, MPPDA headquarters in New York has been advised. Nate Blumberg, Universal president, will tfl honored by the Universal sales force in a Nail Blumberg testimonial drive to begin June it William A. Scully, general sales manager, has ar« nounced. The drive will continue through Ol tober 27. P Some of the new product that will be availab during the drive will include "That's the Spirit, starring Jack Oakie and Peggy Ryan; the net Abbott and Costello show, "The Naughty Nin(j, ties" ; "Uncle Harry", starring George Sander' Geraldine Fitzgerald and Ella Raines; "Lady o) a Train", starring Deanna Durbin, with Ralri Bellamy and David Bruce, and "On Stage Everj body", starring Jack Oakie, Peggy Ryan an! Johnny Coy* Current product, such as "Salomf Where She Danced", "Patrick The Great' "Sudan", "Here Come The Co-Eds" and "Frisc Sal" will be included in the drive. The sales force has been divided into thre! groups for the drive, with the eastern group to b. known as the Pilgrims, the southern group to b known as the Planters and the western group t be known as the Pioneers. The competition wi be among these three groups on a national basi and also within each group on a divisional basi;' with prizes to be awarded not only to the win' ning branch managers, bookers and salesmen, bt also to office employees, shippers and film spectors. Additional prizes have been set up for the dis trict managers who come in first, second and thirv in the national drive. in, National Screen Realigns Sales Four new districts have been established by Naj, tional Screen Service. Charles Lester, now Atlan|c ta branch manager, will govern. that area, MemF phis and Charlotte. Lou Patz will supervise Mini neapolis, Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, Dent ver and Salt Lake City. Bernie Wolf, now Lot. Angeles branch manager, will operate the ex) changes there, in San Francisco, Portland and, Seattle. And Leo Abrams, now New York man! ager, will head the New York, New Haven, All bany, Buffalo and Boston exchanges. The plan was announced at the annual conven'1 tion, which began at the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria1' New York, Thursday, and was to continue unti?, next Wednesday. Presiding at the conference ar^l Herman Robbins, president; George F. Dembowlt sales vice-president, and William Brenner, it charge of service. In the realignment, which is expected to resultj in seven districts, Oscar Dizon, salesman, su< ceeds Mr. Patz as Des Moines manager; Benjj. min Ashe, salesman, succeeds Mr. Wolf as Los Angeles manager, and Harold Bennett, salesman,1/ succeeds Mr. Abrams in New York. Jack Cohnij in whose unit the New York and New England! exchanges were, will now continue to manage Phil-' adelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh, Cleveland and Detroit. William Bein continues to manage Cin-11 cinnati, Indianapolis, St. Louis, Chicago, and Milwaukee. A manager will be named for Dallas,? Oklahoma City and New Orleans. Robert Con-j] way, resigned, will be succeeded by Al Rothschildij in Memphis. RKO Elects Nine Directors At Stockholders' Meeting Directors were elected at the annual meeting of? the stockholders of Radio Keith Orpheum Cor-jtl poration at Dover, Del., Wednesday. The directors! are Ned E. Depinet, L. Lawrence Green, N. Petern Rathvon, Harry M. Durning, L. Boyd Hatch, J George H. Shaw. Frederick L. Ehrman. Floyd B.U Odium and J. Miller Walker. Mr. Walker re-f places Richard C. Patterson on the board. Mr.1 Patterson is now Minister to Yugoslavia. 34 MOTION PICTURE HERALD, JUNE 9, 1945'