At the Festival the lovely and talented Jerry Beck went on about how he enjoyed these posts. So I'm not the only one apparently, but does that make me as Looney as him?
This is an even more interesting issue than the last. So far they keep getting better every week.
SURPRISE ATTEMPT TO SPLIT UP UNION FAILS
As reported at our last General Membership Meeting, the Regional War Labor Board rejected our demands in the Terrytoon case and sustained almost all of the recommendations made by the Hearing Officer in his report.
The members of the Terrytoon Unit were very upset about the decision and under the leadership of the entire group of animators, new attempts were made to settle the distasteful situation that has been prevailing at the plant.
In their sincere desire to reach an understanding, they went so far as to break the basic union principle of dealing with employers through chosen representatives and offered to meet with the employer without "outsiders." No one was happy about doing that because we all recognize the importance of the principle, but the step did prove how far the people were willing to go to reach an agreement. the meeting was set for Tuesday evening, May 9.
At the last minute, however, someone, not the union, thought of a better plan. Why not split the Union once and for all? Why not drive a wedge between the employees and their chosen leaders by showing up the Business Agent and Lawyer in front of all the workers?
The attempt was made. Your Business Agent and Lawyer were portrayed as the evil ones dislike by the employer and causing all the trouble. The employer had no grudge against the workers. He loves them all. Sweetness and honey were thickly spread on our members, but only sarcasm and vindictiveness on our BA and Lawyer.
But it didn't work!
Our members put up with the ham acting insults to our intelligence for only a short time and then, with clarity, firmness and directness the 19 employees who were present expressed their opinions. In our democratic organization they had known of every step along the way and had made every decision. They were there to conclude a contract and not to waste time with innuendos and fancy legal language. They definitely 100% behind every word our lawyer said. They came to talk turkey and wanted simply to know what the employer had to offer.
Finally Mr. Weiss took over and for once we felt we could talk to someone who spoke our language. It was a relief to find someone we could work with and reason with. A tentative agreement was worked out to be taken to Mr. Terry for approval. When the Union receives their offer, a General Membership meeting will be called to discuss the proposal (Representing the Company were Bill Weiss and Mr. Kerwin).
The group present at the meeting, specially the animators, deserves warm congratulations for their splendid show of strength and unity of action. The group showed that it pays to be informed of what goes on. The meeting demonstrated what can be accomplished if we work all together. In the words of the Business Agent: "The Industry never had, not even in the west coast, a better Negotiation Committee that those 19 people that represented you at the Terry negotiations on the night of May 9th."
GO WEST, YOUNG MAN.
The animators at Terry, Famous & Loucks and Norling were very much interested in an ad published the "Times" from the Amalfi Agency soliciting animators.
After the first stampede and in spite of some rugged individuals, the Union handled the requests of about 16 men interested in finding out what it was all about. Walter Lantz, the studio needing the men, will contact our Business Agent and outside of the salaries, the rest of the conditions shall be negotiated by the Local.
DUES AT FAMOUS
On April 28 the Studio and the Local published the following notice in their bulletin board:
As determined in our By-laws, by May 18 MAY DUES SHOULD BE PAID, as on that day the Union will send a list to Mr. Buckweld with the names of those in arrears And 15 days later, on June 1st., animator list will go to him with the names of those who have not paid their June dues.Please take notice that Paragraph 'Third' of the contract entered into between the Union and the Employer on March 13, 1943, provides that: MEMBERSHIP IN GOOD STANDING IN THE UNION SHALL BE CONDITION OF CONTINUED EMPLOYMENT. In the event that any member of the Union shall not be in good standing, including payment of dues, at any time after May 18, 1944, such employee will automatically be suspended from employment until he or she regains good standing in the Union.
However, it is encouraging to notice that at this writing, most of the May dues have been paid, so it is expected that Famous studios will not have to receive any letter from us.
FINANCIAL REPORT FOR APRIL
Income.......................$746.60
Disbursments:
Debt to Local 852.............260.00
Per capita tax.......................80.40
Pepe Ruiz, salary...............125.70
Withholding Tax & SS.........91.10
Bonding of Officers.............15.00
Mimeographing 'Top Cel'....33.23
Printing of check book..........1.75
Office supplies.....................12.32
Meeting Halls......................10.00
Phone, BA Expenses............34.47
Train fare for Ex. Board.........4.00
Refund of dues.......................7.25
675.22
FLIPPINGS
Stan Green, now in England, want "Top Cel" sent him... it will be a pleasure.... Incidentally, the Local's office still wants the addresses of our members overseas to send them the paper.... At Famous, Rosalie Socolov now a member of Timing Dept.... Vera Skalet now full fledged inbetweener.... that rates her 2/3ds... Sgt George Baker back in New York from Anzio.... Lt. Streech unable to see Walt on his trip to the coast.. Better luck next time.... Elinore Seidman taking a leave of absence to join her husband.... lucky Elinore..... Tom Inada about to leave for the Army.... Marea Bishop with her husband in North Carolina last week end.... Sarah Whitmore, from MGM in town marrying her daughter... Lt. Al Williams awarded the Air Medal with two oak leave clusters for valiant action over the Gilbert and Marshalls.... Zeke de Grasse stationed at Quoddy Village, Maine.... Jack Mendelsohn will soon have a male companion in opaque, Dave Levine.... New at Famous, Shirley Harris, Marilyn Eggert... new at Terrys, Mario Trombetta, Bernard Wexler....
TRADE NEWS
Production of Snafu cartoons for the Army and technical films for the Navy will cause Leon Schlesinger to hold "Merrie Melodies" and "Looney Tunes" to 13 each next season as against the usual 39.... All will be in Technicolor.... Walter Lantz, also making Navy subjects, will produce 13 Technicolor Cartunes for Universal 1944-45 distribution.
Construction will start in about three weeks on a new building next to Lant's present studio. The plant is expanding into a new edifice, where they will produce nothing but subjects for the Navy. Postwar plans call for them to use the new studio for straight commercial films.
Don't miss "The Negro Soldier', Army Signal Corp documentary featurette produced under supervision of Frank Capra.
Also at the Museum of Modern Art, on May 29 & 30, it will be shown "A Short History of Animation", the cartoon from 1879 to 1933.
Louis B. Mayer, again, as for the last ten years becomes the highest paid executive in the country, this time $1,138,992.00. Previous year he only made $949,765.84.
WEST COAST PROPOSED CONTRACT
The figures published in our latest edition were not correct and it caused certain comments, especially since the assistants at Famous, according to rumors, are making more money, with the Bonuses, than the animators.
Now, with a copy of the proposed contract in front of us, we can give the correct data.
The conditions are the same reported before, 20% of the box office gross from all second run pictures or re-issues; a check system through the industry for the collections of dues; military termination allowance equal to six week's pay; severance pay of two weeks after one year employment, and an additional week's pay for each additional year of employment.
Ban of solicitation of funds; screen credit; grievance and arbitration machinery; accumulative seniority rights; equal distribution of over time; time and one half for work in excess of 8 hours; a bonus for the unit that produces more than eight pictures a year; vacations with pay; sick leave consisting of one day for each month of employment; maternity leave.
For service men returning to their jobs, the man who replaced him shall be entitled to take the next lower classified job and all the way down the line; Labor Management Committee. It is proposed as a one year contract.
Salaries (per week)
Story men.......................$125.00
Assts. (Sketch, gags)........106.25
Sketchmen..........................95.00
(For 2 months tryouts).......75.00
Story research.....................50.00
Maximum for one storyman, six cartoons per year. For two story men, six to twelve cartoons. Minimum purchase price for regular cartoon, eight times weekly salary of storyman.
------
Layout...............................$118.75
Layout, Technical films......112.50
Assistant...............................87.50
------
Background Man...............$100.00
Apprentice, 1st 3 mos............75.00
2nd 3 mos..........80.00
3rd 3 mos...........85.00
4th 3 mos..........90.00
Background tracer.................43.75
Air Brush (Training, Com-
mercials & Educationals).....87.50
Title Artist.............................95.00
------
Animators (Character and
Effects).................................$125.00
Apprentice, one year..............106.25
Assistants.................................75.00
Breakdown...............................56.25
Inbetweeners............................43.75
Apprentice, 1st 2 mos..............35.00
2nd 2 mos............37.50
3rd 2 mos.............40.00
The number of Asst. employed shall be at least equal to the total number of Animators & Apprentice Animators employed.
Scene Technician....................87.50
Animation Checker.................68.75
Apprentice, 1st 3 mos.............47.50
2nd 3 mos............52.50
3rd 3 mos.............57.50
4th 3 mos.............62.50
------
Inkers.....................................43.75
Apprentice, 1st 3 mos............35.00
2nd 3 mos..........37.50
3rd 3 mos...........40.00
------
Painters....................................37.50
Apprentice, 3 months..............32.50
Shadow, Cut-outs....................43.75
Apprentice, 1st 2 mos.............35.00
2nd 2 mos............37.50
3rd 2 mos.............40.00
Dry Brush or Air Brush...........43.75
Color Model Supervisor..........50.00
Color Model............................43.75
Set Up (separate animation)....43.75
Set Up (Tracer)........................37.50
P&I Asst. Supervisor...............56.25
P&I Checkers, Class I,
Mechanics or both P & I.........50.00
Class II, only P & I..................43.75
Apprentice 1st 3 mos...............37.50
2nd 3 mos.............40.00
------
Paint Lab, Mix & Match.........43.75
Apprentice, 1st 3 mos.............37.50
2nd 3 mos...........40.00
Dispensary..............................31.25
Paint Technician.....................68.75
Assistant.................................50.00
------
Cell Washer & Polisher..........37.50
------
Comic Strip
Class I, Story man or artist
doing 1 Sunday AND 6 daily....145.00
Class II, Story man or artist
doing 2 Sunday paper or 6
daily per week............................75.00
Class III, Writes or draws
1 Sunday paper per week...........75.00
Inkers, Class I............................75.00
Class II Assitants, simple
inking and clean up....................65.00
Promotion and Publicity
Class I, National Advertising....125.00
Class II, Assistant National
Advertising.................................75.00
Picture set ups.............................56.25
Assistant, 1st 3 months...............43.75
Experience to be computed as of the
date employee first went to work in the industry. All salary reductions made prior to January 1st, 1941, shall be restored immediately.
They ask for minimum yearly increases from $2.50 to $5.00 per week for next five years for each one of the above classifications.
The negotiations with George Pal have started already and it is agreed that the contract with that particular producer should be retroactive to April 29. However the Producers nixed the request of the Local for open negotiations. They asked that parleys be held at night in a hall large enough for the membership to attend and listen to representatives present their proposals. The Producers Assn. said no, and asked only a small committee to be named.
MORE FLIPPINGS
Tobin and Whitaker of the Navy Unit at Anacostia boosted to first class and Lou Schmidt made a Chief. They are so busy that have a night shift. George Rufle is the newest additino to the Unit and is very happy.... Father Dayton Pattengill has some genuine government red tape on her desk lamp... anyone can touch it upon application... Jim Carmichael, back from somewhere, but still in the Pacific, getting in use to fresh water showers, eating in plates, etc... He says that "about 75% of the old outfit volunteered to go right back again... A healthy prove of how the guys out here feel".... Frank H. Spaulding asking to 'Top Cel'... Lucie Harrison asking for a Withdrawal Card.... Helen de Bruyn left Terry's.... Reg. Massie with two paintings at the Brooklyn Museum.....
THE 'BALLOTS FOR FIGHTERS' DRIVE
There are over 8 million Americans of voting age in the armed services. About 1 million of them are from NY State, most of them from New York City.
President Roosevelt proposed a simple plan that would have made it possible for every eligible serviceman, servicewomen and all other persons in war services to vote. The Republicans, combining with a group of reactionary poll-tax southern Democrats, voted down the President's proposal. The Administration then fought for as liberal a Federal Soldier's Vote Bill as possible. It succeeded in getting passed a Law which makes it possible for every soldier to vote through a simple and easily available Federal Ballot IF his own State agreed to use the Federal Ballot.
Governor Dewey has to date refused to accept the Federal Ballot. This means that if a Serviceman or women fails to receive a NY State War Ballot he or she will be disenfranchised.
The New York Law requires that every serviceman makes a signed application for a ballot. That the application must reach NY "on or before September 1st." It requires that ballots be mailed to applicants "on or before Sept 7th". It requires must reach the NY Commission "no later than noon Nov. 3rd".
Make sure that all your friends in the service, whether overseas overseas on in the States, gets one application for a War Ballot. Explain to your friends at home the need of our soldiers using the right to vote. If they must give their lives they should be allowed to vote. Their vote, one way or the other, can decide the 1944 election.
Ask your Steward or Business Agent for several "Serviceman's Application For A War Ballot" card. Attached to it are careful instructions to the servicemen and his relatives and friends.
Only the utmost effort on the part of the people at home will give them their right to vote.
ITEMS
Screen Publicists Guild in Hollywood is having a referendum of the entire membership on acceptance a charter from the Brotherhood of Painters and Decorators like the one we have. It will require some time since ballots will be sent to 62 members in the service. Others affiliated with the Brotherhood in the West Coast are the Movie Picture Painters and Scene Artists, Screen Office Employees Guild, Screen Set Designers and Screen Cartoonists.
The Treasure Department in its first public accounting of its control over salary increases, had admitted approving raises for almost 100 corporation officials making more than $50,000 per year.
The figures showed that 95 officials have been making $7,070,060.00 before the increases were allowed , or an average of almost $75,000 each. Their raises averaged $11,500, bringing them up to an average of more than $86,000 a year.
No comments:
Post a Comment