The Moving Picture World/Volume 1/Number 1/A Plea for Fair Treatment of the Operator
A PLEA FOR FAIR TREATMENT OF THE OPERATOR
The Editor of Moving Picture World:
What is an operator? A machine, a slave, a dog to be kicked, or a man to whom some consideration should be shown? We have in mind two types of operators, how they were treated, and the results. One class were working for a firm, and were treated as though they were serfs. We first noticed some fifteen or eighteen youths varying from seventeen to twenty years of age waiting in a corridor on Saturday at 2, and asked one, "What was doing?" "Oh," said he, "we are waiting for the dough, and have been here since 12 o'clock, waiting the boss's pleasure." While doing our business there was a scuffle, a fall, and some hearty laughter; when one of the principals of the firm went into the corridor and railed at these youths, with some of the vilest language ever heard outside Hades, thoroughly cowing and frightening all the fun out of them, threatening to keep them another two hours before he paid them their stipends of from eight to ten dollars, which he ultimately did do, they getting away about 4:15 o'clock. Now, note the sequel! We met one of these youths during the week, and commiserated with him. He said: "Oh, that's nothing; we are used to that. But I got even with him." "How?" we naturally asked. "Why, I cracked three condensors, scratched about 60 or 70 feet of film with a file, and took a $40 job off the boss to So-and-so, with whom I am going to work on Monday next." There he was better treated, and, we believe, is doing well. We tried to argue about the principal and the morality of the matter, showing there was no justification for being so spiteful. It was all in vain. He made up his mind to get even according to his light; and he got it. He was treated like no human being ought to be treated; and, like a dog who has been whipped without cause, when his master turned his back he snarled and bit his heel.
Now a brighter picture. A friend of ours who has held his present position for some years, speaking of his experiences, said his employer made it worth while to keep everything spick and span. He received a commission on all repeat orders he secured, and he often sold his machine outright at the place of exhibition. He never had a quarrel or harsh word all the time he had been employed, and at Christmas he and three others received substantial cash bonuses as gifts. He remarked that it was a pleasure to do the work, and it was worth while to make sacrifices and put himself to inconvenience sometimes, if the success of the exhibition demanded it, well knowing that his (and his colleague's) efforts were fully appreciated by their employer, who make their interests his, thus securing better service and more carful operators.
These are two extremes, mayhap. All are not alike, we know; but if the happy medium is stuck it will tend to improve the status of the operator, save the machines, give a longer lease of life to the films, and a great trustworthiness all round.