Amendments to policy propositions 2007

Two amendments have been submitted by Branches in response to the policy propositions. The Standing Orders Committee has not rejected any amendments.

AP13 Production bonds [composited by the SOC]

That this annual conference calls on the NEC to require a bonding system for all independent feature productions at the production company's expense. The minimum requirement should be that two weeks crew wages will be in the bond, which would be released in the event of the crew not being paid. Production should not commence unless a bond is in place. The release should be on the signature of the General Secretary or Assistant General Secretary of BECTU.

Amendment

In second sentence delete "crew wages" and insert "wages of BECTU members", and after "in the event of the" delete "crew" and insert "members"

AP16 Health and safety hotline

That this annual conference instructs the NEC to discuss with the TUC General [Council] the feasibility of establishing a 24-hour hotline to provide health and safety advice to all union members.

The health and safety office provide a limited advice service, being only available Monday to Friday, nine to five, which does not take into account the unsociable hours worked in this industry and many other industries. Also the advice given by the H&S outside these hours is to contact the local police, who may not be competent or willing to give advice on a health and safety matter.

Amendment

In second sentence delete "health and safety office" and insert "Health and Safety Executive", and delete "nine to five" and insert "0800-1800";

in third sentence delete "H&S" and insert "HSE"

AP20 British National Party

That this annual conference was appalled to hear of the case of Simone Clarke, the BNP advocate and Equity representative employed by English National Ballet. Conference states that any known member of the BNP or any other racist or fascist organisation is expelled from the union by the NEC as under rule 13, for negation of the union's objectives as under rule 5(l).

Amendment

Delete "the union by the NEC as under rule 13, for negation of the union's objectives as under rule 5(l)" and insert "BECTU by the NEC under rules 13 and 24(a) (iii), as their policies and activities are incompatible with rule 5(l)."