Evening star., 1933-03-14
PLAYERS
ACCEPT PAY CUTS
Union Movie Workers Agree
to Present Claims to Ar
bitration Board.
By the, Associated Press.

BY the, Associated Press.
HOLLYWOOD, Calf, March IA
| new pay adjustment agreement affect
ing high-salaried contract employees and
decision to debate q controversy with
unions, before an arbitration board
opened the way for resumption OF ac-
tivities at motion picture studios today
after yesterdays shutdown.
The new plan places the brunt of
the salary reduction on the highly paid
workers and exempts minor employees.
Employees drawing more than 500 a
week will take SO per cent cut, with
minimum Of SIS. Those drawing be-
tween $76 and 500 weekly will be re-
duced 35 per cent with $65 minimum.
Is per cent cut was agreed to for
those between $51 and SITS. There will
be no reductions for workers drawing
$50 and under weekly.
The reductions, brought on by the
State and national bank holidays, are
to prevail eight weeks.
The "high-bracket" employees we're
given the option of accepting the cut
or working four weeks without pay.
Players Satisfied.
Satisfaction of the players with the
arrangement was expressed at a mass
meeting last night, at which Wallace
Beery, proposing a vote Of thanks to
Lawrence Grant and other actors on
the Emergency Committee of the Acad-
emy of Motion Picture Arts and Sci
ences, jovially remarked, Only Jesse
James could have done any better"
The four unions Of motion picture
studio employees declined to join in
the plan as originally proposed last
week. but it was stated after yesterdays
negotiations that their members will re-
sumo work while the dispute is being
arbitrated.
Approval of the agreement came by
telephone from New York motion pic
ture officials.
The mass meeting of players was quiet
in tone and in contrast to the tumultuous
session OF last Friday, but 1t was not
without indication of potential trouble
IN the all-lmportant matter of securing
the signatures of players to the salary
waivers.
Robert Emmett OConnor asked if the
vote OF thanks was to be taken as a
vote on anything else" and was as
sured by Walter Huston, chairman, that
it was not.
Future Uncertain.
Charles Bickford raised the question
OF what's going to keep the studios
open after the eight weeks are over"
To that, Grant. showing in hoarse
voice and weary countenance the effect
Of days OF conferences, replied: I'VE
are hard workers, Mr.. Bickford, but We
are not palmists nor clairvoyants. We
can't answer that question today. We
are simply acting In the present emer-
gency."
Conrad Nagel announced that the mo-
tion picture industry relief fund, which
depends on voluntary pledges of one
half OF l per cent Of salaries earned,
would be safeguarded in the cut through
donations by the studios of amounts
lost.
Among those present at the meeting
were Chester Morris, Mary Brian,
Myrna 10y, David Manners, Hedda Hop
per, Neil Hamilton, Regis Toomey, Allan
Dinehart. Jetta Goudal. Pat O'Brien,
Louise Closer Hale, Elizabeth Patter-
son, Jack Oakie, Thelma Todd, Jack
Holt. Give Brook, Ralph Bellamy, Hal
lam Cooley, Edgar Norton, James Gag
ney, June Collyer, Stuart Erwin, Dick
Powell. Lewis Stone, Purnell Pratt and
George Chandler.