Proposals debated at Conference 2006
All decisions on proposed Rule changes and propositions (motions) considered by the BECTU Annual Conference at Eastbourne on 21 May 2006.
Decisions of Conference are flagged by the use of six descriptions:
- CARRIED - proposal supported by Conference.
- LOST - proposal rejected by Conference.
- REMITTED - proposal handed to NEC without any decision by Conference.
- PASSED OVER - proposal not debated or no vote taken.
- WITHDRAWN - proposal removed by those who submitted the motion and therefore not considered by Conference.
- INCORPORATED - amendment incorporated into proposal by agreement of movers of proposal.
Formal motions on the BECTU Conference agenda
Proposition 1/06 Funding for Conference (AP4)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to seek out local, union-friendly, ethical and otherwise appropriate companies and organisations willing to provide sponsorship at future Conferences. Such sponsorship will help subsidise the cost of Conference or fund propositions which might otherwise fail on cost grounds.
Proposition 2/06 Office of the Pensions Advisory Service (AP16)
That this Annual Conference, in view of the growing pensions crisis, instructs the NEC to affiliate BECTU to the voluntary organisation OPAS (Office of the Pensions Advisory Service) to provide support for the work of OPAS and reciprocally provide BECTU and its members with a ready source of expertise on general pensions matters rather than individual specific actuarial advice.
Emergency proposition 2/06 Human Rights Act
This annual conference condemns the recent statement by the Prime Minister Tony Blair suggesting that the Government should take powers to override judges' decisions based on the Human Rights Act. Conference regards this as an attack on democracy and the rule of law, and as an attempt to appease the most right-wing and intolerant elements of the press and employers. Conference instructs the National Executive Committee to communicate this decision to the Prime Minister and to the union's membership and the wider industry.
Proposition 3/06 Training (AP9)
That this Annual Conference deplores the loss of television production, studios and facilities. However, we recognise the need for new forms of media and experimental television but wish to ensure that employers such as the BBC and Independent Television give appropriate training in creative skills and health & safety to achieve professional standards and to pay the recognised remuneration for the duties undertaken.
We therefore request the NEC to formulate a suitable strategy to ensure that employers maintain proficient standards and working practices for all members of BECTU.
Proposition 4/06 Union recognition (AP6)
That this Annual Conference congratulates the staff of talkbackTHAMES, BBC Bristol Natural History Unit camera operators, and BBC Scotland freelances, for voting for union recognition in last year's ballots and all the officials and members who worked so hard to achieve it.
Proposition 5/06 Film industry sustainability (AP12)
That this Annual Conference welcomes the Treasury's announcement of continued fiscal support for UK film production, especially for inward investment and strengthening the cultural test to encourage more UK/European Economic Area employment among film crews and use of UK facilities, as requested by the union. Conference congratulates officials and members who lobbied the government and urges the union to monitor the detailed implementation of these plans in the 2006 Finance Bill.
However, concerns still remain over the sustainability and level of UK film production, distribution and exhibition. Therefore, this Conference instructs the NEC, via the Film Policy Committee, to discuss, devise and lobby for measures to be taken by government and/or other relevant public or industry bodies to encourage and promote a sustainable base of UK film production, exhibition and distribution, be it an Eady-style levy, quota, or some other measure or means, to be reported to next year's Conference.
Proposition 6/06 Freelancers and union duties (AP8)
That this Annual Conference notes the rising proportion of freelancers in the industry and the difficulties they face when carrying out union duties. The NEC is therefore requested to look at and report back on the viability and desirability of payments to members for union duties, where they do not have an employer to provide time off for union duties.
Emergency proposition 1/06 BBC Wood Norton
In the light of the emergency proposition passed at yesterday's BBC Divisional Conference, this Annual Conference gives their support to members of the Wood Norton branch in their fight to retain Engineering Training within the Corporation following the sell-off of Human Resources to Capita and their threatened inclusion in the deal.
The BBC Charter has always contained a commitment to develop broadcasting and we believe that outsourcing this invaluable facility would not only worsen the service to members within the BBC but also the wider broadcasting industry.
Proposition 7/06 Alteration to rule 8 (AP1)
That this Annual Conference, in a special rules session, approves the following alteration to rule under rule 45(b):
Re-letter existing rule 8 as rule 8(a) and add new clause (b) as follows:
Where a member makes a request for individual representation by an accredited official of the union in a matter that arose prior to the date on which the member is accepted as having joined or rejoined the union, or where the date of the act or event giving rise to a claim made by or on behalf of the member is prior to that joining or rejoining date, that member shall be required to pay a non-refundable contribution of £120 before such representation is provided. Payment of that amount shall not grant any entitlement to legal advice or representation as referred to in rule 21.
Proposition 8/06 Alteration to rule 9 (AP2)
That this Annual Conference, in a special rules session, approves the following alteration to rule under rules 9(e) and 45(b):
In subclause (a)(i), after "or in subclause (ii)" insert "or (iii)", then add new subclause (iii) as follows:
(iii) In their first year of membership, members shall be eligible to pay a reduced introductory subscription of £10.00 per month or £120.00 per annum (or such sum as may be determined by the National Executive Committee in accordance with rule 10). This provision shall not apply to members rejoining the union who have previously paid the introductory subscription rate.
Proposition 9/06 Alteration to rule 10 (AP3)
That this Annual Conference, in a special rules session, approves the following alteration to rule under rules 9(e) and 45(b):
After subclause (i), insert new subclause (ii) as follows, then re-number the remaining subclauses:
(ii) where potential members are employed by a specified employer (whether or not that employer recognises the union) where the union is campaigning to recruit in order to improve its density of membership. Where the National Executive Committee exercises discretion under this subclause, it shall specify the period (not exceeding one year) during which new members may be recruited on reduced subscriptions, and shall report accordingly to Annual Conference.
Proposition 10/06 Parliamentary committee (AP18)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to create a committee of MPs within parliament who are sympathetic to BECTU's aims, and who can promote the union's interests.
Proposition 11/06 Labour leader (AP20)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to encourage and then support prospective candidates for the Labour Party leadership who are sympathetic to the trade union movement.
Proposition 12/06 Copyright parity with Europe (AP15)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC through the Copyright Committee to pursue and propose a policy document to establish parity with European states (e.g. France and Germany) entrenching authors' rights in the integrity of their work and appropriate fruits thereof.
This policy document should compare and contrast the status of UK creators with European contemporaries as set out in the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
Other interested parties (e.g. NUJ, Writers' Guild, Creators' Rights Alliance, PACT, British Council of Copyright, and others, as seen fit) should be consulted.
This policy document shall be presented to the next Annual Conference.
Proposition 13/06 Unesco Cultural Diversity Convention (AP14)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to lobby the government to ratify Unesco's Convention to Protect Cultural Diversity in order to help it become UK, European and international law. The NEC is further instructed to liaise with the 35 national cultural coalitions which fought for the Convention, through the Independent Film Parliament, or some other means, as part of BECTU's role in protecting and encouraging a range of cinema for UK audiences and healthy and diverse selection of British films on our screens.
Proposition 14/06 Support of candidates in elections (AP19)
That this Annual Conference notes that this Labour government has continued with policies that are directly contrary to those of BECTU.
Therefore this Conference instructs BECTU's NEC to allow Branches of the union to support candidates, in addition to Labour Party candidates, at local, regional, national and general elections so long as the candidates support the aims and objects of the union.
No BECTU body shall support in any way the British National Party (BNP) or any other fascist organisation.
London TV News
Bush
Radio & Music Production
Proposition 15/06 Disaffiliation from the Labour Party (AP21)
That this Annual Conference notes that in government the Labour Party has
- allowed all public services to be exploited for private gain, for example through outsourcing and privatisation;
- supported America in the illegal war and occupation of Iraq;
- broken the Warwick Agreement made with the trade unions to protect pensions and jobs.
Therefore this Conference instructs the NEC to disaffiliate BECTU from the Labour Party.
London TV News
Radio & Music Production
Proposition 16/06 Ofcom and political advertising (AP17)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to lobby Ofcom to review its definition and prohibition of television and radio adverts they define as political. This proposition is being submitted because in September 2005 Ofcom banned television and radio adverts by the Make Poverty History coalition (representing nearly 500 voluntary groups).
Proposition 17/06 Regional screen agencies (AP13)
That this Annual Conference acknowledges the strategic importance and influence of the regional screen agencies in assisting the funding of film productions, encouraging new talent within the region, and developing new business in the sector. Conference believes that initiatives led by the screen agencies, for example on diversity or minimum rates of pay, could have an important knock-on effect on the rest of the industry within their region.
In view of the public funding that screen agencies receive and disseminate, BECTU believes that there should be full public accountability and greater input from the industry's workers within each region into the strategic direction that they take.
Conference instructs the NEC to ensure that BECTU is represented on the boards of these regional screen agencies.
Proposition 18/06 Extras' agencies (AP11)
That this Annual Conference instructs the NEC to continue negotiations with the DTI, if necessary via the TUC, to tighten regulation of extras' agencies, and where appropriate employment agencies, with particular emphasis on the following:
- licencing to be reintroduced and made compulsory before any new agency is allowed to trade, and all existing agencies to be given a set time limit to register;
- new agencies to be vetted before allowing them to operate;
- enforcement of ten-day turn-around of monies paid into the agency account on behalf of extras;
- more stringent rules on up-front fees and commission rates, allowing for regional variations and not purely based on London, where the turnover in one day can be equal to a year's turnover in smaller areas;
- abolition of the practice of offering people a one-off job and deducting fees from their payment.
Amendment (i)
Delete "and where appropriate employment agencies," and in sub-clause (d) delete all after "commission rates"
Amendment (ii)
Add new sentence at end: "Conference further instructs the NEC to issue a written report on progress within six months, or to report to the next Annual Conference."
Proposition 19/06 Service to freelance members (AP7)
That this Annual Conference instructs the union to conduct a survey of all freelance members to ascertain whether the service the union is offering is appropriate to members who are very vulnerable to bullying and exploitation by some unscrupulous employers.
Proposition 20/06 Unpaid work experience (AP10)
That this Annual Conference deplores the increasing practice by employers of using work experience candidates as unpaid labour. Conference requests the NEC to monitor such abuses where practical and remind employers of the supernumerary and exclusively training nature of work experience, in an effort to eradicate this practice.
Proposition 21/06 Articles in Stage Screen & Radio (AP5)
That this Annual Conference requests the NEC to look at the viability and desirability of paying members NUJ rates for contributions to Stage Screen & Radio, and reporting its findings to next year's Annual Conference.
Emergency proposition 4/06 Egypt
This conference condemns the arrest of at least 500 democracy protester, including journalists, in Egypt since 24 April 2006.
This conference also condemns assaults on media workers by Egyption security forces, such as the attack by six security men on cameraman Egyption security forces, such as the attack by six security men on cameraman Yasir Sulaiman who was repeatedly punched in the face and had his camera confiscated.
This conference notes that those arrested had gathered to support judges threatened with dismissal by the Egyptian government after declaring the Egyption elections fraudulent and calling for the independence of the judiciary.
This conference therefore instructs the NEC to send a message to Councillor Masher 'Abd al-Wahid, Egypt's Public Prosecutor calling for the immediate release of all those arrested and an end to attacks on media workers by security forces.
Emergency proposition 5/06 Iran
This conference expresses its grave concern at the referral of Iran to the UN Security Council on 29 March 2006 and the rhetoric used by the US and British governments which is reminiscent of that used in the run up to the invasion of Iraq in March 2003.
This BECTU conference notes that:
- the IAEA has found no evidence that Iran is in possession of nuclear weapons
- the US intelligence agency, The National Intelligence Estimate, has estimated that Iran is at least 10 years away from obtaining a nuclear weapon
- Iran has a vibrant democracy movement
- Sanctions and military action in Iraq has killed over one million people
This conference therefore condemns any moves towards the impositions of sanctions or a military attack in Iran.
It further expresses support for the international week of action from 23 to 30 September 2006 against an attack on Iran, called by the European Social Forum and supported by CND and Stop the War Coalition.