New deal resolves River City dispute

Travel time for staff and rest day provision for freelances are amongst measures which have helped to resolve the dispute on River City.

The deal between BECTU and BBC Scotland, reached just days before a national level meeting was due, means that the production can now contract staff to work on the new series. Shooting is due to start in early February.

BECTU had urged BBC Scotland to withdraw its plan to stop paying travel time from base to permanent staff on River City.

The BBC finally accepted the union’s representations and was also persuaded to make another important concession.

Production management are to stop offering contracts to freelances which require them to use every twelfth day as a day’s annual leave.

BECTU’s concerns about excessive hours have also been recognised; permanently employed boom ops and electricans will not be asked to work for more than four weeks at a time on the production.

The agreement paves the way for the introduction of a third camera unit to be engaged on a three-week rotation; as a result, crews will work an 11 day fortnight followed by a week off. However, freelance DoP's will be called for two days prep and gaffer sparks for a single day’s prep during these off weeks.

The new arrangements will also see freelances offered contracts for the full 14 week shoot; the agreement underlines that any work on the twelfth day is subject to voluntary agreement.

BECTU’s Scottish organiser, Paul McManus, believes that this deal is a reasonable compromise.

"Even though we have established a number of key principles with this deal which do address members concerns, we are not being complacent.”

“The BBC is fully aware that we intend to monitor the next series and will be coming back to push for a full return to a five day shooting week," he said.

River City moved from a five day week to a rolling 11 day fortnight last summer when it changed to a drama style one hour programme. The working pattern soon became constant six day weeks as managers struggled with the new format and hours spiralled out of control.