Proposed Rule changes debated at Conference
All proposed Rule changes considered by the BECTU Rules Revision Conference at Bournemouth on 12-13 June 1999. Decisions are flagged by the use of four descriptions:- "CARRIED" - Rule change supported by Conference.
- "LOST" - Rule change rejected by Conference.
- "PASSED OVER" - Rule change not debated or no vote taken.
- "WITHDRAWN" - Rule change removed by those who submitted the motion and therefore not considered by Conference.
AR1 Rule 10(ii)
Delete rule 10(ii) and replace with: "where a member can demonstrate that their earnings are substantially reduced or suspended by reason of long-term unemployment or sickness when the subscription level will be reduced to 50 pence per week;"
Property
CARRIED
Amendment
Delete "when the subscription level will be reduced to 50 pence per week" and insert "when services designed to assist the member's return to employment may continue to be provided notwithstanding rule 12(b)"
National Executive Committee
CARRIED
AR2 Rule 10(iii) [new]
Add new rule 10(iii) as follows and renumber consequentially: "where a member has been paying the unemployed subscription rate for 3 years it should be deemed that they no longer work within the scope of the union and his/her membership will automatically be lodged;"
Property
WITHDRAWN
AR3 Rule 15(b)
After "affecting their employment overseas" insert "or with regard to rights in relation to work previously done whilst in BECTU membership in the UK."
Animation
CARRIED
AR4 Rule 18(a)
Delete "employment" and insert "working"
National Executive Committee
CARRIED
AR5 Rule 18(b)
After "to receive the union's journal," insert "to have any intellectual property rights administered for them by relevant associate collecting societies or agencies of BECTU,"
Animation
CARRIED
AR6 Rule 19
Delete rule 19 and its title in its entirety and substitute the following:
"Rule 19 Badge of merit
The National Executive Committee shall have discretion to award a badge of merit to any member in recognition of his/her meritorious service to the union (and/or its predecessor unions). Such award shall be reported to annual conference."
National Executive Committee
LOST
Amendment
Delete the instruction "Delete rule 19 and its title in its entirety and substitute the following:" and delete the title "Rule 19 Badge of merit", and insert the instruction "Add new clause (c) as follows:"
Bush House 2
LOST
AR7 Rule 19(b)
After "as an observer at his/her own expense," insert "to be co-opted on to any relevant committee,"
Animation
LOST
AR8 Rule 20
After "The award of honorary membership" insert "shall be exceptional, and". Delete final sentence and insert: "The entitlements of members awarded life or honorary membership under previous rules of BECTU or its predecessor unions shall remain."
National Executive Committee
LOST
AR9 Rule 25(a)
Delete the text of clause (a) in its entirety and insert: "The Disciplinary Subcommittee shall comprise three members of the National Executive Committee (other than General Officers), with three reserves, appointed from time to time by resolution of the National Executive Committee."
Consequentially,
in rules 24 (b), 24(c), 25 (heading), 25(d), 26(a), Appendix A standing orders 3, 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, Appendix B (heading) and standing orders 1 and 8 delete "Disciplinary Committee" and "committee" where they appear and insert "Disciplinary Subcommittee";
delete rules 25(b) and 25(c) in their entirety and re-letter subsequent clauses accordingly;
in rule 26(b) delete "or Disciplinary Committee";
and in rule 28(b) delete "Disciplinary Committee of the union" and insert "Disciplinary Subcommittee of the National Executive Committee"
National Executive Committee
LOST
AR10 Rule 26(c)
Add at end: "Where a vacancy arises on the Appeals Committee it shall be filled by the unsuccessful candidate with the highest number of votes at the previous election. In the event of there being no such candidate, the General Secretary shall invite branches to nominate further candidates eligible under clause (b) above, and if more nominations are received than the number of vacancies the National Executive Committee shall determine the appointment by the drawing of lots."
National Executive Committee
CARRIED
AR11 Rule 31A
Delete rule 31A in its entirety. Consequentially, in rule 29(a) delete the last sentence, and in rule 31(e) delete the last sentence.
Film Artistes
CARRIED
AR12 Rule 32(a)
Insert at the beginning: "Where the National Executive Committee so approves, in these rules the term 'area' or 'area committee' shall where appropriate include 'nation' or 'national committee'. After "The areas" insert "(and nations as the case may be)"
Consequentially, amend the title of rule 32 to read "Areas and nations"
CARRIED
National Executive Committee
AR13 Rule 33(e)
After second sentence insert: "Nothing within these rules shall prevent two paid-up members of the same division being nominated as 'job-sharing' candidates to a position on the National Executive Committee."
Consequentially, in Appendix C standing order 20, in last sentence after "motion" insert: "save that in respect of 'job-sharing' representatives who are unable to agree, abstention is permissible."
Commercial West End Theatres
WITHDRAWN
Amendment
After "to a position on the National Executive Committee." insert: "Any job-share shall appear on a ballot paper as one position although both shall be entitled to speak at meetings of the National Executive Committee. They shall share one vote and should they disagree on any matter they shall abstain from voting. Should one member leave offfice the other must also, in order to create a vacancy to be filled by a by-election. (The remaining representative can then reapply to fill the post.)"
Commercial West End Theatres
WITHDRAWN
AR14 Rule 33(i)(i)
Delete "six" and insert "eight"
London Library and Archive
LOST
AR15 Rule 33(i)(ii)
Delete "ten members of the National Executive Committee" and insert "nine members or the minimum quorum of the National Executive Committee, whichever is the least"
North West Freelance
LOST
AR16 Rule 33(s)
Delete "Deputy General Secretary" and insert "Assistant General Secretaries"
Edinburgh Theatres
CARRIED
SOC notes that the key rule change is that proposed by the branch to rule 39
AR17 Rule 35(a)
After "and the treasurer" delete "who shall be elected in accordance with the provisions of rule 33(b)" and insert "who shall be nationally elected by the whole membership in accordance with the provisions of rule 33(h)"
Consequentially,
in rule 33(b) after "shall consist of" insert "the General Officers and", and delete second paragraph;
in rule 33(g) in the first sentence delete all up to and including "at the last election" and insert "Should, for any cause whatsoever, a vacancy occur among the members of the National Executive Committee, including the General Officers, the candidate selected as the second preference of the voters at the last election, according to the preferential voting system,";
in rule 33(h)(i) after "Candidate for election" insert "as President, Vice-President or Treasurer or";
in rule 33(h)(iv) add at end of the clause: "Those arrangements shall include provision for the marking of the voting paper by the member in order of preference held for the candidates. The successful candidate will be the candidate with the highest number of first preference votes. Elections to General Officer positions will be counted first, and where the successful candidates have also been listed as first preference for divisional National Executive Committee member, this preference will be replaced in the count by the second preference listed on that ballot paper."
[continued]
Make other consequentials if identified.
North West Freelance
LOST
AR18 Rule 37
In each clause delete "or the Deputy General Secretary" and insert "or an official authorised by the National Executive Committee"
Edinburgh Theatres
CARRIED
AR19 Rule 38(b)
In the second sentence delete "and non-members"
Central London Programmes
Glasgow Theatres
LOST
AR20 Rule 38(b)
Add at end: "Nominations will be made over a maximum period of four weeks."
Glasgow Theatres
LOST
AR21 Rule 38(d) [new]
Insert new clause 38(d) as follows and re-letter accordingly: "The nomination and the voting periods shall not be longer than four weeks each." Make consequential cross-reference change in rule 39.
Central London Programmes
LOST
SOC notes that this proposed rule change would have the same effect as the changes proposed to rule 38(b) and 38(e) by the Glasgow Theatres branch
AR22 Rule 38(e)
Add at end: "Votes will be cast over a maximum period of four weeks."
Glasgow Theatres
PASSED OVER
AR23 Rule 38(e) [new]
Insert new clause (e) as follows, and re-letter following clauses accordingly: "Candidates may not be promoted, leafleted for, lobbied for or in any way publicly supported by any paid officials of BECTU who must at all times be seen to remain strictly impartial, in order to ensure that there are no possible grounds for future claims of favouritism or victimisation following an election."
North West Freelance
LOST
AR24 Rule 39
Delete the text of rule 39 in its entirety and insert:
"Upon the leaving of office by the Deputy General Secretary holding that post as at 10 June 1999, the position of Deputy General Secretary shall cease to exist."
Consequentially,
in rule 33(s) delete "and Deputy General Secretary";
in rules 37(a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i) and (j), in each clause, delete "or the Deputy General Secretary" and insert "or an official authorised by the National Executive Committee";
in rule 40(a)(ii) delete ", Deputy General Secretary";
and in Appendix C, standing order 5, delete second sentence
National Executive Committee
WITHDRAWN
AR25 Rule 39
Delete the text of rule 39 in its entirety and insert:
"Assistant General Secretaries
Upon the leaving of office by the Deputy General Secretary holding that post as at 10 June 1999, the position of Deputy General Secretary shall cease to exist.
Commencing in 1999, there shall be two posts of Assistant General Secretary, which shall be elected - one by the members in the Arts & Entertainment, BBC and Independent Broadcasting divisions and one by the members in the Laboratories, London Production and Regional Production divisions. Otherwise, the procedure for election of Assistant General Secretaries will follow as nearly as may be that for the General Secretary under rule 38(b)-(h). The National Executive Committee shall determine the duties of the Assistant General Secretaries who will work to the General Secretary."
Glasgow Theatres
CARRIED
Amendment
In second sentence, after "there shall be two posts of Assistant General Secretary," insert "which shall be of equal status and"; in last sentence, after "The National Executive Committee shall" insert ", with due regard to their equal status,"
North West Freelance
CARRIED
NOTE Due to a misnumbering, there is no AR26
AR27 Rule 39
After "all subsequent Deputy General Secretaries" delete "shall be elected" and insert "or Assistant General Secretaries shall be appointed, by election or through public advertisement in line with legislation on General Equality." In second sentence delete "election of the Deputy General Secretary" and insert "elections"
Animation
WITHDRAWN
AR28 Rule 40(a)
Delete "Commencing with 1993 the National Executive Committee shall convene an annual conference" and insert "Commencing with the year 2000 the National Executive Committee shall convene a biennial conference"
Consequentially, in rule 40(d) delete penultimate sentence; in rule 45(a) delete "three" and insert "four", and delete "1993" and insert "2002"; in rules 3(a), 3(c), 3(d), 9(a), 9(b)(i), 9(e), 19(b), 20, 26(a), 27(f), 31(b), 31(e), 31(m), 32(a), 33(a), 33(l), 33(m), 33(o), 33(v), 34(c), 38(h), 40(c), 40(d), 40(h), 41(a), 41(b), 41(d), 42(a), 42(b), 42(d), 42(e), 42(f)(i), 42(i)(ii), 42(i)(iii), 42(j)(i), 45(b), Appendix D by-laws 8(a) and 9, delete "annual" and insert "biennial" and alter the indefinite article where appropriate
National Executive Committee
LOST
Amendment
In the consequential change to rule 45(a), delete "four" and insert "two"
LOST
Camera
AR29 Rule 40(a)(ii)
Delete "Deputy General Secretary" and insert "Assistant General Secretaries"
Edinburgh Theatres
CARRIED
AR30 Rule 40(a)(ii)
In first sentence, after "and members of the National Executive Committee" insert "(who are not elected delegates)"
Consequentially, in rule 40(b), first sentence, delete "Members of the National Executive Committee and" and capitalise the initial letter of "paid"
Camera
LOST
AR31 Rule 40(d)
After "determine the place" insert "and date"
National Executive Committee
CARRIED
AR32 Rule 40(d)
Delete all following "earlier than the close of conference."
National Executive Committee
CARRIED
AR33 Rule 40(l)
In second sentence after "such a poll" delete "a card vote shall be taken." and insert "a count of delegates voting shall be taken." Delete third sentence.
Camera
LOST
AR34 Rule 42(e)
In second sentence after "for receiving Rule changes," insert "appeals with regard to rejected Rule changes,"
Animation
LOST
AR35 Rule 42(g)
Add at end: "Branches may submit appeals with regard to rejected Rule changes on the same date that amended Rule changes are due in."
Animation
WITHDRAWN
AR36 Rule 43 [new]
Insert new rule 43 as follows and renumber the subsequent rules accordingly:
"43 Motions of censure
(a) If three branches support a motion censuring the actions of any committee of the union, and such motion has been approved either by a majority of branch members signing the motion, or by being passed by a majority of votes at a quorate meeting, according to the rules applicable to those branches, then the National Executive Committee shall be required within ten days of receipt of the motion by any of its members to:
(i) ensure that the motion shall be put to meetings of every branch affected by the censured action;
(ii) make provision for at least one member selected by those branches proposing the motion and at least one member of the censured committee to be present at each meeting.
(b) In the event that a majority of these branches also support the motion by passing it with a majority of votes at a quorate meeting, according to the rules for those branches, then the committee shall be required to cease taking the censured action, and to pursue such action as the motion of censure demands of them."
London Television News
WITHDRAWN
AR37 Rule 43(j) and (k) [new]
After clause (i) insert new clauses (j) and (k) as follows, and re-letter the subsequent clauses accordingly:
"(j) In the event of industrial action not being called, despite a majority of votes cast in favour, the elected representatives responsible for the decision shall deliver a letter signed by them all to those members balloted for the action, informing them of the reasons for the decision.
(k) In the event of industrial action being suspended or terminated without the members concerned being balloted on the question of such suspension or termination, or after a ballot has failed to return a majority of votes cast for suspension or termination of the action, the elected representatives responsible for the decision shall deliver a letter signed by them all to those members balloted for the action, informing them of the reasons for the decision."
London Television News
LOST
Failed to achieve 66% majority on card vote
7508 FOR 7505 AGAINST
AR38 Rule 45(a) and (b)
Delete rules 45(a) and (b). Insert new rule 45(a), (b) and (c) as follows, and re-letter subsequent clauses accordingly:
"(a) Save as provided by rule 9 and notwithstanding rule 45(b), these rules shall be open to general alteration only at a rules revision conference, of which there shall be one at intervals of not less than three years commencing with 1999, and then only after the procedure laid down in (d) or (e) of this rule has been followed.
(b) The National Executive Committee may increase the interval between general rules conferences up to a maximum of five years in the following circumstances ONLY:
(i) when the union's financial situation is such that the cost of holding general rules conferences would lead to financial difficulties;
AND
(ii) if increasing the interval between general rules conferences eliminates any need to cancel or increase the interval of annual conference due to financial difficulties.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, any changes to these rules may be altered at a special rules session convened in accordance with the provisions of rule 41 clauses (a), (c), (d) and (e) in association with annual conference to consider such alterations to these rules. However, changes to these rules will not be accepted when it is felt that they can be postponed to the next scheduled general rules conference. The final arbiter on acceptance of a special rules session shall be annual conference."
Bush House 2
LOST
AR39 Rule 45(e)
In first sentence after "voting at the conference" delete ", or in the case of a card vote two-thirds of the votes cast,"
Camera
PASSED OVER
AR40 Appendix C standing order 5
Delete "Deputy General Secretary" and insert "Assistant General Secretaries"
Edinburgh Theatres
CARRIED
AR41 Appendix C standing order 20
In third sentence after "such occasions" delete ", but all other voting members of the NEC shall vote either for or against any motion"
Camera
WITHDRAWN
AR42 Appendix D by-law 8
Delete clause (a). Insert new clauses (a) and (b) as follows and re-letter the subsequent clause accordingly:
"(a) Divisional committees shall be composed of representatives elected by ballot of the members of the division which they organise. Where such divisions have been broken down into sub-divisions (in accordance with rule 31(d) of these rules), the sub-divisional committees shall be composed of representatives elected by ballot of the members of the sub-division which they organise. Such elections to be held annually and prior to the annual conference.
(b) In all other respects the composition of the divisional and sub-divisional committees shall be determined by the divisions themselves, subject to the agreement of the National Executive Committee and to endorsement by annual conference."
London Television News
LOST