Freelances in Scotland win review

After months of talks, BECTU's Scottish Freelance branch and BBC Scotland agree annual rises for freelances and casuals.

The agreement means that the minimum rates for script supervisor, production designer, production buyer, costume designer and camera operator will rise by 4%, backdated to 1 October 2007, and by a further 2%, backdated to 1 October 2008. The increases are in line with the last two rises for BBC staff.

In addition, although BECTU is not formally recognised by the BBC for casual grades, they too will receive an across the board increase of 4% backdated to 1 April 2008. This will be reviewed again in January 2010.

Annual leave also features in the agreement; all freelance and casual workers will receive a further 1.9% increase on their annual leave entitlement from 1 April 2009, taking their leave entitlement to 12.1% of all earnings.

Some freelance grades already negotiate rates above the minimums but thanks to this agreement more freelances and all casuals will see an increase in earnings and the benefit of backdated payments.

Scottish Organiser, Paul McManus, believes the agreement is a major step forward for BECTU's freelance members at BBC Scotland: “We have now firmly established the principle that freelances and casual workers deserve cost of living increases and we can move forward positively each year to make this agreement better and stronger for all our freelance members.

“I am obviously pleased that all casuals, from riggers to scenic operators, will receive increases too. When you add in the increase in annual leave someone like a costume supervisor will see an increase of nearly £40 per week and right now is due around £25 a week back pay from 1 April 2008.”

BECTU and the BBC have agreed to write to all freelance members to ensure that everyone receives any backpay they are due.

Freelances working for BBC Scotland support a range of output from local soap, River City, to assignments in studio and on outside broadcasts covering sport and music.