BECTU Conference 1998 propositions decisions

That this conference instructs the NEC to ensure that at least one of the General Officers (President/Vice President/Treasurer) to be elected by the incoming NEC is a woman; and that women are appropriately represented on all sub-committees and representative groups formed and appointed by the NEC.

North West Freelance

That this conference instructs the NEC to form a working party to revise the modus operandi and the raison d'�tre of the union as a whole.

To survive we have to staunch the haemorrhage of membership and attract new, vital young blood to our ranks.

The remit for this working party will be to report to lay membership within six months.

Producers/Directors

CARRIED

Amendment:

Delete "revise the modus operandi and the raison d'�tre" and insert "review the modus operandi"

Film & Tape Editing

LOST

That this conference should authorise BECTU head office to take on more new technologies in order to better serve its membership.

Central London Programmes

CARRIED

That this conference approves the following revised subscription rates, submitted in accordance with rule 9(e):

In rule 9(a), after "provided elsewhere in these rules" insert "or in clause (aa) below"

After rule 9(a) insert new rule 9(aa) as follows: "The National Executive Committee shall review subscription income as at the end of 1998, and if in its view it is prudent to do so it shall authorise that no member paying subscriptions under clause (a) above shall pay more than £250 per annum (or, if greater, the maximum payable by freelance members by virtue of clause (bb)(iii) below) with effect from such date in 1999 as it shall prescribe."

At beginning of rule 9(b) insert "Until 30 June 1998," and delete "half-annually or quarterly" and insert "half-annually, quarterly or monthly"

After rule 9(b) insert new rule 9(bb) as follows:

"(i) With effect from 1 July 1998, freelance members shall pay subscriptions according to the following scale:

(ii) Gross annual earnings shall be defined for this purpose as a member's pre-tax earnings in the industries described in rule 6(a) in the preceding tax year.

(iii) All the figures in the scale given in subclause (i) above shall be subject to increase by a percentage figure equal to the annual increase in the General Index of Retail Prices for the month of September 1998, and in each September thereafter, to take effect from each 1 January following."

In rule 9(f), after "former members of the Film Artistes' Association" delete all that follows and insert "and members allocated to the Film Artistes' subdivision or branch under rule 31(ll) shall pay subscriptions amounting to half the subscription that would be applicable under clauses (b) or (bb) above."

In rule 10, in subclause (v), delete "one percent" and insert "0.8 of one per cent"

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

Amendment 1:

Delete the amounts of subscriptions payable monthly amend annually and insert:

Northern Freelance

LOST

Amendment 2:

In the table of subscriptions payable, delete "Gross annual earnings" and insert "Net relevant earnings before tax"; in the following subclause (ii), delete "Gross annual earnings" and insert "Net relevant earnings before tax"

Northern Freelance

LOST

That this conference is alarmed at the proposals to raise the minimum subscription from £92 to £120 annually for those earning less than £15,000 p.a. Conference believes this proposal could exclude thousands of low paid workers from the benefits of BECTU membership, and consequently lead to the weakening of the union and leave those workers unrepresented.

Conference instructs the NEC to oppose any raising of minimum subscriptions and concentrate instead on building membership in those areas of low pay within the industry.

ITN

FALLS BECAUSE OF ABOVE PRPOSITIONS BEING PASSED

That this conference moves that the BECTU subscription fees should, over a period of time, be made more equitable and capped at a figure agreed by conference.

Central London Programmes

CARRIED

That this conference recommends that the current special offer on subscriptions for new BBC members should continue but be monitored for continuing effectiveness, and at the same time an ongoing programme of special initiatives should be devised and introduced at an appropriate juncture if it is considered that the current offer has run its course.

Bush House 2

CARRIED

Amendment:

Delete comma and insert full stop after "effectiveness"; delete "and at" and insert "At"; delete all after "juncture" and insert "in all divisions of BECTU."

Commercial West End Theatres

CARRIED

That this conference, being the supreme policy-making and governing body of the union, states its firm belief that past custom and practice, and the observance of proper democratic accountability, includes the following rights for BECTU members:

1 the right of members to govern and control their own affairs at branch and divisional level as they see fit, providing they do not contravene the policies set by conference, or exceed the budget allocated to the division by the NEC;

2 the right of members to minute their meetings themselves if they so choose;

3 the right of members to speak freely at their meetings without an official present, if they so choose;

4 the right for officers of a division, or other nominated divisional sub-committees, to meet between divisions to contribute to the running of the division, if the division so wishes, and for the division and its officers to make a full contribution to any relevant debates on issues that concern them;

5 the right to express dissent without fear of victimisation or harassment.

North West Freelance

WITHDRAWN

That this conference states its firm belief that it is perfectly right and proper for members at the Divisional level to decide their spending priorities for the budget allocated to them by the NEC, and to agree a budget for the year, in co-operation with (but not under instruction by) the relevant official.

Conference believes it is also right and proper that the elected Treasurer, or other nominated Divisional officer/s should have access to the quarterly information necessary to report to the Division on the progress of their budget and to allow adjustments to be made where required to meet the priorities of the Division and stay within budget.

North West Freelance

WITHDRAWN

That this conference instructs the NEC to expedite the appointment of a qualified fulltime Training Officer at head office.

Producers/Directors

REMITTED

Amendment:

Delete "expedite the appointment of" and insert "appoint"

Commercial West End Theatres

WITHDRAWN

That this conference congratulates the magnificent campaign by BECTU to reduce the high levels of formaldehyde and dust produced from Medium Density Fibreboard. If this and other actions combating hazardous substances at work are to be truly successful, we call on the NEC to endorse the following:

1 a campaign for the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations to be observed in every workplace;

2 the funding of training of workers in COSHH by employers;

3 the Health and Safety Executive to be properly funded to enable it to carry out its functions as the enforcing agency;

4 the current health and safety legislation to be changed to allow for the right of full-time union organisers to act as union safety representatives in all workplaces where we have membership;

5 the union to improve its resources aimed at health and safety; 6 a Toxic Reduction Programme in our industry supported by manufacturers and suppliers;

7 a health surveillance programme funded by the industry to carry out medical checkups in the workplace.

Set Crafts

CARRIED

Amendment:

In item 4, after "full-time union organisers" insert "and where appropriate lay members", and after "membership" insert "in accordance with the rights given to Equity and the Musicians' Union under regulation 8 of the 1977 Safety Representatives and Safety Committees Regulations"

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

That this conference instructs the NEC to mount a campaign for the introduction of health and safety legislation covering work in extreme temperatures, and, in the light of the excessively high and dangerous working temperatures experienced last summer on productions, which establishes a maximum working temperature; this campaign should be pursued through all relevant bodies.

Special Effects

CARRIED

That this conference endorses the requirement that extraction units be fitted to all rip saws, chop saws, "De-Walts" and routers when sets are being constructed and erected to eliminate carcinogenic dust and particles. This also applies to paint dust when spraying. Spray paint should only be applied before normal work hours (8-5) or after the main construction crew have departed.

CARRIED

That this conference instructs the incoming NEC to fight vigorously against the detrimental effect of excessive working hours and furthermore to reinforce the employers' health and safety responsibilities, to minimise the risks which could result from current working practices. Conference therefore instructs the NEC to develop effective methods for enforcing the relevant sections of agreements between BECTU and employers. (Composite motion)

Film Artistes
South West Freelance

CARRIED

That this conference is alarmed at the high level of working hours in the freelance sector and the resulting impact on our members' health and safety. Conference therefore welcomes the Working Time Directive but is concerned that the government may have excluded many workers across the freelance production sector.

Conference also call upon the NEC to support and extend our campaign on the issue of reducing the minimum hours worked on all types of productions, curbing the culture of excessive hours in our industry and encouraging job creation as an alternative.

We request that the NEC supports the following:

1 lobbying the government, trade unions and European bodies to include all workers, however they may pay tax, under the Directive;

2 recognising that due to the short-term nature of employment of freelance a payment of holiday credits will be required to compensate for paid leave under the Directive;

3 any derogation under the Directive must not exceed a 60 hour working week including prep and wrap.

4 that maximum pressure be exerted on all employers;

5 drawing attention to the need for the Health and Safety Executive to be properly resourced to police our industry.

Set Crafts
Sound

COMPOSITE PROPOSITION

CARRIED Amendment:

Delete item 3 and renumber the remaining items.

National Executive Committee

LOST

That this conference notes the successes of the BECTU National Visual Artists branch initiated campaign for free entry to all publicly funded museums, galleries, exhibitions and arts centres.

Conference therefore calls on the NEC to

1 support and play a leading r�le in Free For All, if formed, a collaborative group of involved campaigners for free entry;

2 move a free entry resolution through the 1998 TUC in consultation with the NVA branch, that takes account of the current political and cultural situation;

3 demand of government, both as a trade union and as part of Free For All, to honour its pre-election pledge of freeing up our core collections by 2000, and formulating cultural policy that calls upon museum trustees to revoke charges where they exist and prevent new ones. Also to increase grant-in-aid to museums so that jobs are protected as charges are revoked.

Finally, conference condemns plans for £700m of public expenditure for an impermanent millennium dome in comparison to the £45m needed for free entry.

National Visual Artists

CARRIED

Amendment:

Delete from "2 move a free entry resolution..." to "...cultural situation" inclusive, and renumber item 3 as item 2

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

That this conference welcomes the Labour government's commitment to the introduction of a minimum wage. However, conference views with concern discussion of the possible exemption of under-25-year-olds from the minimum wage, the possible regional character of the proposals, and the low figures being touted by the government.

Conference instructs the NEC to campaign to ensure that the minimum wage is set as high as possible and to submit resolutions to this effect to both the TUC and Labour Party conferences.

Scenic Ops

WITHDRAWN

Amendment:

In final paragraph insert full stop after "as high as possible" and delete the remainder.

National Executive Committee

That this conference welcomes the Labour government's commitment to the introduction of the minimum wage. Conference views with concern, however, discussion of the possible exemption of under-25-year-olds from the minimum wage as well as the possible regional character of the proposals and the low figures currently being touted by the government.

Conference instructs the NEC to campaign for a minimum wage set at no less than half male median earnings to be applicable to all workers who draw a wage under that figure. This instruction should further be taken to both the TUC and Labour Party conference.

IT Services

CARRIED

Amendment:

In the second paragraph, delete the last sentence.

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

That this conference welcomes the Labour government's commitment to the introduction of the minimum wage. Conference views with concern, however, discussion of the possible exemption of under-25-year-olds from the minimum wage, the possible regional character of the proposals and the low figures currently being touted by the government.

Conference instructs the NEC to campaign for a minimum wage set at no less than half male mean earnings to be applicable to all workers who draw a wage under that figure. This instruction should further be taken to both the TUC and Labour Party conference.

ITN

WITHDRAWN

Amendment:

In the second paragraph, delete the last sentence.

National Executive Committee

That this conference encourage the government's election manifesto pledge to introduce minimum wage legislation and also to lobby the government against introducing any exclusion or get-out clauses into minimum wage legislation.

New Entrants/Graduates

WITHDRAWN

That this conference believes the government's decision to charge students for further/higher education will limit access to those with the ability to pay. Conference instructs the NEC not to give support to such a policy and to campaign to reverse the decision.

Scenic Ops

CARRIED

That this conference believes the union's employment service, Crews, should be replaced by a register of all unemployed members, and that the register should be freely available to employers and branch officers, so that companies can ascertain quickly and efficiently who is available for work at any one time.

Conference also believes that unemployed members, particularly freelance members, should be encouraged to register and that this service should be widely publicised so that employers would be aware of the register.

Property

That this conference instructs the NEC to campaign for higher levels of compensation for unfair loss of employment at Industrial Tribunals, on the basis that current levels do not adequately reflect the distress caused and fail to protect employee rights.

Central London Radio Engineering

CARRIED

That this conference believes that all workers should have the opportunity of an adequate pension in retirement. In recognition of this, it calls on the NEC to establish a scheme where an employer will jointly contribute to a pension for all in work. Due to the transient nature of many of our members in work, this pension should have the option of portability.

Set Crafts

That this conference notes the government's continuing trend of reducing state pensions and therefore calls upon the NEC to make every effort to restore a functioning Freelance Pension Scheme.

Assistant Directors & Location

CARRIED

That this conference instructs the NEC to investigate the possibility of providing pension provisions for members, and if necessary opening discussions with such bodies as the TUC to offer such a facility.

TV25

CARRIED

That this conference should by every means at its disposal seek to help normalise the state pension to the retirement age (full time employment) of 60, and that the link between the state pension and average full time earnings be fully restored forthwith.

IT Services

CARRIED

That this conference instructs the NEC to take the following motion to the TUC and Labour Party conferences: "This conference demands the repeal of all Tory anti- trade union legislation during this parliament."

Scenic Ops

WITHDRAWN

That this conference instructs the NEC to take the following motion to the TUC and Labour Party conferences: "That this conference demands the repeal of the Tory anti-trade union legislation, during this parliament."

ITN

WITHDRAWN

That this conference instructs the NEC to take the following motion to the TUC and Labour Party conference: "That this conference demands the repeal of the 1979 Tory anti-trade union laws during this parliament."

IT Services

WITHDRAWN

That this conference should request that BECTU approaches the Labour Party with the intention of seeking a firm commitment to revoke or favourably amend the draconian anti-trade union legislation implemented by the previous administration, and that if such a commitment is not forthcoming, then the level of BECTU's affiliation to the Labour Party should be reviewed.

Bush House 2

CARRIED

That this conference pledges to support the workers listed below, all of whom have fallen victim to the Tory anti-union laws:

the Magnet Kitchen workers, sacked during a "lawful" dispute with the management and now in the second year of their strike;

the Liverpool Dockers, now in the third year of dispute, sacked for refusing to cross a picket line mounted by fellow workmates;

the Critchley workers, sacked after going on strike when the management enforced redundancies in breach of a written agreement - the union (CWU) was subsequently derecognised;

and the Hillingdon Hospital workers, also in the third year of their strike, originally against the company Pall Mall who sacked them after they refused to take a cut to their wages by £40 a week.

If the anti-union laws were repealed all these strikes would be won. In order to ensure the reinstatement of these workers the union will mount a campaign to repeal the anti-union laws enacted over the last two decades. The campaign will continue until the government has repealed the anti-union laws and further we instruct the NEC to support all attempts to repeal the anti-trade union laws at Labour and TUC Conferences.

South Wales Freelance

COMPOSITE PROPOSITION

CARRIED

That this conference congratulates the NEC on their support for Media Workers Against the Nazis during the 1997 parliamentary elections and their success in stopping transmission by Channel 4 of the racist broadcast by the British National Party. Conference views with concern, however, the confusion at the BBC about the union's position and therefore instructs the NEC to issue the following to members in the event of national or local government elections: "No member of BECTU should assist in the production or transmission of any broadcast prepared by or on behalf of an organisation that promotes racist or fascist ideas. BECTU will defend any member who refuses to undertake such work."

IT Services

WITHDRAWN

That this conference congratulates the NEC on their support for Media Workers Against the Nazis during the 1997 parliamentary elections and their success in stopping transmission by Channel 4 of the racist broadcast by the British National Party. Conference views with concern, however, the confusion at the BBC about the union's position and therefore instructs the NEC to issue the following instructions to members in the event of national or local government elections: "No member of BECTU should assist in the production or transmission of any broadcast prepared by or on behalf of an organisation that promotes racist or fascist ideas. BECTU will defend any member who refuses to undertake such work."

ITN

LOST

That this conference notes the government's plans:

1 to cut lone parent benefit for single parents;

2 to tax disability living allowance;

3 to force unemployed people off the dole by introducing American style workfare schemes.

Conference believes that the government should tax the richest 20% in Britain to pay for welfare.

Conference resolves:

1 to campaign against these "reforms" of the welfare state;

2 to support and publicise any protest against such measures by disabled, single parent or unemployed groups;

3 to send this resolution to the 1998 TUC and Labour conferences.

ITN

CARRIED

Amendment:

Amend semicolon after "unemployed groups" to full stop and delete "3 to send this resolution to the 1998 TUC and Labour conferences."

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

That this conference notes the introduction of the PACT voluntary code of conduct for work experience.

Conference instructs the NEC to support the Graduates branch in campaigning against disregard of the code of conduct which frequently leads to employers expecting new entrants to work for indefinite periods on little or no pay and without proper supervision or insurance cover.

New Entrants/Graduates

CARRIED

Amendment:

In second paragraph, delete "against disregard of" and insert "for adherence to", and after "code of conduct which" insert "when disregarded"

Film & Tape Editing

CARRIED

That this conference urges the NEC to devise and campaign for an industry-wide training levy, based on the model currently operating in the British construction industry, which will channel part of the huge profits made from television and film production into developing and training current and future generations of workers.

Scenic Ops

CARRIED

That this conference believes that in view of the increase in NVQs for our industry the insistence of some employers that members in certain grades should hold NVQs, and the high cost of obtaining an NVQ, BECTU should investigate ways of funding members' NVQs including the introduction of an industry levy for this purpose.

Property

CARRIED

That this conference supports the principle of a per cent for art scheme being operated as a requirement of public building proposals granted Lottery funding.

National Visual Artists

CARRIED

That this conference gives its serious backing for full recognition for front-of-house staff in Odeon Cinemas, so they may enjoy the same privileges as technical staff, i.e. negotiating their own pay and conditions.

Odeon Newcastle

CARRIED

That this conference, by means of a campaign mounted from within and by BECTU, exerts pressure on government to change the law so as to create a new category of property or premises (to be called, say, "cultural amenities") to which special prices, rents and rates apply and which most practitioners engaged in the visual fine arts, and/or most persons engaged in or with non-commercial theatres or cinemas, can realistically be expected to afford for use as their studios, workshops or work spaces.

National Visual Artists

CARRIED

That this conference seeks a speedy revision of the TUPE regulations to include a redundancy option for those to be transferred, which might be taken by the incumbents together with any attendant procedures relevant to their present conditions of service in employment.

IT Services

That this conference welcomes the recent moves in the National Health Service to dismantle the internal market, and instructs the NEC to pressurise the government, the BBC Governors and the Board of Management to review the "Producer Choice" policy, and to dismantle the bureaucratic, wasteful and damaging internal market at the BBC.

London Post-Production & Graphic Design

WITHDRAWN

That this conference, now that the Labour government has begun the process of dismantling the internal market within the NHS, instructs the NEC to commit BECTU to a vigorous campaign to end the internal market within the BBC.

Glasgow 1

WITHDRAWN

That this conference opposes the BBC's internal market, otherwise known as "Producer Choice", and the inevitable cuts and chaos it brings. We should also condemn the breaking up of the BBC by the privatisation of departments the setting-up of wholly or part owned subsidiaries the contracting-out of ancillary services.

We instruct the NEC to oppose all attempts by the BBC to continue with such policies, using measures at their disposal, including industrial action.

IT Services

CARRIED

Amendment:

In final sentence after "using" insert "all", and delete ", including industrial action"

National Executive Committee

CARRIED

That this conference opposes the 1996 Broadcasting Act which weakened the curbs on cross-media ownership and is concerned at the Labour Party's support for this, both in opposition and now in government. This legislation has aided large monopolies like News International to gain even greater control. In particular, conference sees the increased monopoly control of delivery and distribution as a threat to many small and diverse titles, from the Morning Star to the Catholic Herald.

Conference believes that a Commission should be established to investigate these problems and make proposals for restrictions of cross-ownership and the rights of distribution and display, and introduce legislation based on the best practice of other countries.

Scenic Ops

CARRIED

That this conference, whilst recognising that the NEC is still investigating the problems of budgets and scheduling in broadcasting that were first raised by the Film & Tape Editing branch at the 1996 conference, would like to draw the attention of the Research Officer and the NEC to the increasing habit by the employers of including unpaid layoffs within the schedules that they have agreed with the commissioning editors.

This habit, which began with the Christmas holiday period, has now spread throughout the year. It occurs in both independent and in-house productions, and has the same effect on freelance and staff workers.

We call upon conference to back this motion unanimously in order to help BECTU to put a stop to this pernicious habit.

Film & Tape Editing

CARRIED

That this annual conference believes all productions should have a full complement of standby crew on all "shoots" to revamp sets. This personnel to consist of carpenter, stagehand, painter and - when needed - a rigger.

Stagehands

WITHDRAWN

Amendment:

After "all productions" insert "where appropriate"

Writers & Researchers

That this conference condemns the continuing practice of working excessive hours on film/TV productions, despite the fact that this is known to be a threat to health and safety through stress, fatigue which increases the risk of driving accidents, and increased risk of heart disease.

In particular this conference condemns:

1 contracts based on "camera hours" which ignore the fact that the Assistant Directors, Hair & Make-up, and Costume & Wardrobe departments must often start work long before the camera starts turning, and finish long after;

2 regular six-day working, which is particularly disruptive of family and personal life.

The conference therefore calls on the NEC to initiate a campaign on working hours in 1998-9, based on the following principles:

1 individual schedules to be no more than 12 hours in any one day; 2 a minimum 10-hour break between calls, after travel to and from base;

3 a return to the five-day week as the norm in film/TV productions.

4 an increase in staffing levels in the Hair & Make-up department, which can be financed from savings on artistes' overtime.

This conference also calls on the NEC to collate and/or sponsor research into the deleterious effects of excessive working hours, and appeals to responsible employers to work with the union in setting standards for a more civilised and sustainable working environment.

Assistant Directors & Location Media Make-up & Hair

CARRIED

That this conference calls for a strategy and campaign to address the issue of specific funding for animated film, a strategy that takes a view to ensuring a pool of funding to support increased animated film production with decent rates of pay for BECTU members seeking work.

Animation

CARRIED