Evening star., 1950-11-20
DeadIine Concession!
By N Broadcasters
Avert Actors Strike
BY the Associated Press

NEW YORK, Nov. 20. Last
minute network concessions yes
terday avoided what would have
been the first coast-to coast strike
in the television industry.
The settlement came only 35
minutes before actors, singers,
dancers and announcers of the
AFL Television Authority were to
walk out against three networks
and New York station WORTH,
which originates one network pro-
gram.
The fourth big network, the
National Broadcasting Co., had
escaped the strike threat earlier
through continued negotiations
and an agreement that paved the
way for the industry wide settle
ment.
The other networks are Colum-
bia. American and Dumont.
The strike would have involved
$4,000 TV entertainers, grouped
in five unions and all represented
in television by the Authority.
Radio Artists Win Separate Pact.
Later yesterday, one of the five
unions, the American Federation
OF Radio Artists, announced a
separate settlement of a contract
dispute with the four major radio
network s-National, Columbia,
American and Mutual. The terms
provided pay increases of from
Is to 80 per cent. Scales were
not announced.
The Television Authority scored
several major gains in its settle
ment, including the following
among the most important:
i. Substantial sincreases in pay
scales in the industry.
2. Union right to partially curb
showing of films of TV shows.
The union will announce details
later, it said.
8. The right of authority mem
bers to take part in strikes ap-
proved by the authority. This
will strengthen the bargaining po-
sition of other AFL unions in the
industry, such as stage hands, en-
gineers and some musicians.
Du Mont Had Picket Line.
All four Video networks and
WOR-TV maintained solid front
against the unions until Saturday
night, when NBC said it would
keep talking after the others
broke off negotiations. After 16
hours, NBC and the unions
reached an agreement, and the
other networks and WOR-TV
came back to bargain on that
basis. The final agreement came
at 7:25 am, just 35 minutes be-
fore the strike deadline.
Du Mont had a token picket
line until 11:30 am. however, be-
fore it could confirm its verbal
agreement in writing.
First effect of the strike would
not have come until about 6 pm,
however, when most of the net
works scheduled their first "live"
shows. All had said they would
carry on. strike or no strike, US
ing films and sports events to
fill out programs.
Minimum Scales Listed.
George Heller, national exec
utive secretary of the Authority,
said the new minimum scales give
actors with five lines or more on
o 15-minute show $40, with five
rehearsal hours; $125 for a half
hour show with IL hours re-
hearsal, and $170 for an hour
show with % hours rehearsal.
Actors with less than five lines
get proportional rates of $50,
$62.50 and SIS, with shorter re-
hearSal times.
Vaudeville acts get minimum
of 5000 for a single performer,
sportscasters get 5000 per event or
$3.50 a week for major play-by-
play sports. Walkons or extras
get $40 for a 15-minute show to
$45 an hour show.
The settlement also included
scores of other rates and working
conditions. The new pact runs two
wears starting December I