Delegates continue link with Labour

Delegates to BECTU’s Annual Conference in Liverpool on 9 May voted down a proposal to review the union’s affiliation to the Labour Party.

For some the annual ritual of debate about the union’s affiliation to the Labour Party is a key talking point, for others the yearly disaffiliation proposal is a temporary distraction, from a positive and forward-looking event.

An emergency proposition submitted by the Post Production and Facilities Branch provided the debating opportunity this year. Hanging off the Labour Party’s poor showing in the local elections on 1 May, the proposal called for a ballot of the membership to discuss a range of possible options, including the severing of our formal relationship with the Party.

BECTU's National Executive Committee opposed the motion in a lively exchange which highlighted the fact that in 2003 a ballot of BECTU's membership, itself prompted by an Annual Conference decision, decided that BECTU should retain its affiliation. Every year since 2000 Annual Conference has voted down a proposal to disaffiliate.

For BECTU, affiliation is recognition of the fact that so many of the decisions which affect our members working lives are political, whether the focus is on BBC funding, the Arts Council's lack of transparency in the way it awards grants, Ofcom’s market-driven approach to broadcasting or the relaxation of rules on work-permits which would allow overseas workers to fill roles in the UK which could be occupied by resident labour.

“For BECTU, lobbying is an essential part of what we do; our affiliation to the Labour Party gives us many opportunities to ensure that our members' interests are not overlooked, better still, that they are taken into account.” commented BECTU's General Secretary Gerry Morrissey.

“Some members also seem to forget the benefits of minimum wage legislation, new rights on flexible working and the resources generated by the Union Learning and Modernisation Funds, all of which have been put in place by the Labour government and from which our members have benefitted.” he continued.

Looking at BECTU's interests from a more internal perspective, the next most keenly debated issue was the proposal from the North Wales Freelance branch to alter the union's rules in favour of a biennial conference rather than an annual conference.

Ann Jones, a long-standing union representative with special interests in training, urged delegates to consider the cost-savings which would result from such a move and which could be used to improve organising for members on the ground. “An Annual Conference outside London costs up to £130K a year.” Ann Jones advised conference.

Whilst delegates were mindful of the union’s need to use its resources to best effect, the motion was defeated by 8801 to 5001 votes on a card vote. Arguments to maintain Annual Conference's preminent position in the democratic life of the union held sway. Several delegates also spoke of the unique role which conference plays in enabling representatives from all sections of the union to share their experiences on a single occasion each year.

Of several rule changes agreed this year, two stand out; one which confirms that BECTU has the right to invoke its disciplinary procedures against any member “found to be a member of a fascist or racist organisation or who supports or circulates material or speaks on behalf of any organisation concerned with disseminating racist beliefs attitudes or ideas or who undertakes actions against others .. designed to discriminate”.

The other marks the change in status of the Laboratories Division which is now formally reorganised as a branch and sub-division of the London Production Division. The Labs Division has played a long and respected role within the amalgamated union but its membership has dwindled in recent years due to the effects of the global economy and new technology. Labs’ past and current membership were paid respect at conference when discussions ended with a standing ovation.

New to this year's event was a change in format with the introduction of several workshops to discuss key themes for BECTU. This year's workshops concentrated on: the union's legacy ambitions for Olympics 2012; the threat to BECTU's operations posed by US-style union busters; and a role for BECTU in greening our industries. More detailed reports on the workshops will follow.

A full list of the motions debated at this year's conference can be found on the Conference blog 2008, along with a summary of decisions made.