Progress on Televideo payments

BECTU’s pursuit of payments for members owed money by OB company, Televideo, is paying off.

Commenting on developments since BECTU first went public on the issue earlier this month, Paul McManus, Scottish Organiser, provided the following update:

"Following BECTU's approaches on 12 February to Televideo over outstanding payments to Scottish freelances, some members have contacted BECTU's Scottish Office to advise that they have now received cheques for the money they were owed.

“These payments were due for work done on Televideo OB's in Scotland prior to Christmas.

“Televideo have also now contacted BECTU to assert that all Scottish freelances have now been paid in full. However BECTU is aware of at least one member who claims that money remains outstanding for a number of pre-Christmas contracts.

“In addition, Televideo advised BECTU that their own permanent staff are driven up to Scotland by minibus on the day, or are offered the option of an overnight on the Friday.

“However it was their view that freelances from Sheffield, or the North East, are responsible for their own travel arrangements. Equally Televideo believe that it is reasonable for them not to pay freelances until they have received payment from their client, BT Visions.”

BECTU is clear in its advice to freelances, and to companies engaging them, that it is not legitimate to expect our freelance members to subsidise them in this way.

Any freelances who believe they are still due monies from Televideo should contact Paul McManus at BECTU's Glasgow office as soon as possible.

“Equally BECTU is keen to hear from any freelances who are expected to make their own travel arrangements on the day” commented Paul McManus.