Film workers start fight over British Lion closure

FILM technicians at Shepperton, Middlesex, have voted for the next Labour government to immediately renationalize the studios under workers' control and without A meeting on Thursday night also called for the nationalization of any other major film studios in financial difficulties.

Technicians at Shepperton are Sapper would like information about threatened with the complete closure of the studios by the new owner of British Lion, assets-stripper John Bentley.

Various branches of British Lion's assets have already been hived off, including Pearl and Dean, the Dover Street offices and Lion Pacesetter Productions.

'Chief fear is that Bentleyhead of Barclay Securities-will close down Shepperton and hand over the valuable real estate to property developers at a vast It would mean more film unemployment in an . industry hard hit by chronic joblessness.

Thursday's well-attended meeting also demanded the "blacking' of any British Lion films made outside Shepperton Another motion passed demanded that indoor film work shot outside the studios be driven back to Shepperton.

The TUC was also asked to effect pledges of support already given to the Shepperton workers.

Alan Sapper, general secretary of the Association of Cinematograph, Television and Allied Technicians, yesterday told good response from the meeting. Now a lot of hard work has to be put into giving effect to te decisions made 'We are up against one of the most powerful assets-strippers in the country, we must the film industry to fight him, Building workers from many parts ol Lancaster-joined a building workers' strike for the full claim. Work POLITIAL GANG BONES LABOURERS mi SOW*