"I Work Alla Time"

LABOR

Musicians' Czar James Caesar Petrillo had already waltzed his way through wage raises from the movie magnates and hotelmen. Last week it was the turn of the record companies to feed the kitty.

Into a sparsely furnished room of Chicago's Palmer House filed apprehensive representatives from RCA Victor, Decca, Columbia and the other major record-makers. "Boys," greeted host Petrillo, "each year we just sign. This time we're going to negotiate."

While the recordmakers and Petrillo bargained heatedly, waiters ducked in with cooling trayloads of beer. During a break, reporters asked the Czar how he was doing. Shrugged he: "Aw, you know how it is. I work alla time and fight alla time and get my brains beat out alla time. But you know me. I bounce back."

Industry negotiators bounced to the ceiling at Petrillo's initial wage demands, wildly claimed that he was asking a 533% boost in some categories. "Only 533%?" mocked the Czar. "Why not 560%? Those industry guys always say to me: 'Do you want to put us out of business?' And I say, 'No, I wanna be in business with you.' "

Before the needle wore out, Partner Petrillo was calling the tune. This week union recording musicians begin drawing a straight hourly increase of 37 1/2% ($41.25 instead of $30 for a three-hour session). "Pretty good," said James Caesar Petrillo.

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