Amendments to policy propositions

Listed below are amendments submitted by Branches and the National Executive Committee to policy propositions for the 2001 BECTU Conference.

The text of the propositions are shown with the amendment following. Where the Standing Orders Committee (SOC) has rejected amendments their reason for so doing is given.

The full list of accepted policy propositions included four propositions from the Royal Opera House branch which were rejected by SOC as out of time. The branch has made representations to SOC about the exceptional circumstances that prevailed at the time, and the SOC has agreed that conference may be asked whether the propositions should in fact be included in conference business.

The SOC encourages branches submitting similar propositions to consider withdrawal in favour of one, or to consider compositing. Branches can consider this at any point up to and during conference: if doing so in advance of conference, please write to the SOC c/o David Cormack at BECTU Head Office.

Propositions previously accepted by the SOC with accepted amendments

Proposition 1/01 (AP3) Election of President [alternative A]

That this annual conference approves the following alterations to rule submitted by the NEC under rule 45(b):

Rule 33(b)

Delete "clause (h)(iv) below" and insert "clause (h)(i)-(iv) below"

Delete "The National Executive Committee shall elect the President, Vice-President and Treasurer from amongst its members." and insert: "The National Executive Committee shall elect the Vice-President and Treasurer from amongst its members. The National Executive Committee shall also include the President, who shall be elected at the same time as the representatives defined above in the manner set out in clause (h) below."

Rule 33(g)

After "Should, for any cause whatsoever, a vacancy occur among the" insert "divisional"

After "In the event of there being no such candidate," insert "or should for any cause whatsoever a vacancy occur for the position of President,"

After "election of the National Executive Committee" insert "or President."

Rule 33(h)(i)

Add at end: "Candidates for election as President under clause (b) above must be nominated for that position by at least one branch in any of the divisions in clause (b) above, and otherwise in the same manner as prescribed for the nomination of candidates to represent divisions. Candidates for President shall be voted for by all paid-up members irrespective of their division."

Rule 33(h)(iv)

Add at end: "The votes for President shall be counted first, and where a candidate has been validly nominated for election to the National Executive Committee as both President and divisional representative, he/she shall if successfully elected as President not also be elected in any other capacity, and the person with the next highest number of votes in the election in the division concerned shall be declared elected as a representative for that division."

National Executive Committee

Amendment

In the proposed rule 33(h)(i), after "at least one branch in" delete "any" and insert "each".

North West Freelance

SOC note: the above accepted amendment was submitted as part of a series of amendments, otherwise rejected (see below).

Proposition 2/01 (AP4) Election of President [alternative B]

That this annual conference approves the following alterations to rule submitted by the NEC under rule 45(b):

Rule 33(b)

Delete "clause (h)(iv) below" and insert "clause (h)(i)-(iv) below"

After "from amongst its members." insert "The President, who shall not by virtue of holding that position be a voting member of the National Executive Committee, shall not hold that position for more than thirteen months, nor have held that position in the preceding twelve months."

Consequentially, in Appendix C, by-law 20, after "elected members" delete all down to and including "members of the NEC" and insert "present and eligible to vote, who"

National Executive Committee

Amendment

In the second paragraph, final sentence, delete "twelve" and insert "thirty-six".

North West Freelance

Proposition 3/01 (AP2) Subscriptions

That this annual conference approves the following alterations to rule submitted by the NEC under rule 9(e):

Rule 9(a)

Re-letter rule 9(a) as rule 9(a)(i)

Rule 9(aa)

Re-letter rule 9(aa) as rule 9(a)(ii)

Delete existing rule 9(aa) [proposed rule 9(a)(ii)] in its entirety and insert: "No member paying subscriptions under subclause (i) above shall be required to pay more than £400 per annum with effect from 1 January 2002."

Rule 9(b)(i)

Delete in its entirety and re-letter existing rule 9(b)(ii) as rule 9(b)(i)

Rule 9(b)(ii) [proposed rule 9(b)(i)]

Delete in its entirety and insert:

"With effect from 1 January 2002, members paying subscriptions by direct debit or standing order shall pay subscriptions according to the following scale:

Gross annual earnings Subscription payable
monthly annually
introductory offer* £10.00 £120.00
£12,501-£15,000** £11.25 £135.00
£15,001-£17,500 £12.50 £150.00
£17,501-£20,000 £14.58 £175.00
£20,001-£22,500 £16.66 £200.00
£22,501-£25,000 £18.75 £225.00
£25,001-£27,500 £20.83 £250.00
£27,501-£30,000 £22.92 £275.00
over £30,000 £25.00 £300.00

*for first year of membership only

**or, in this band only, one per cent of earnings where a member provides evidence that this is a lower amount"

Rule 9(bb)(i)

Delete in its entirety and re-letter existing rule 9(bb)(ii) as rule 9(b)(ii) and existing rule 9(bb)(iii) as rule 9(b)(iii)

Rule 9(bb)(iii) [proposed rule 9(b)(iii)]

Delete in its entirety and insert:

"With effect from 2002, and every third year thereafter, a member paying subscriptions according to the scale set out in subclause (i) above, other than at the maximum rate in that scale, whose subscription has not increased in the two year period prior to the effective date, shall be deemed to have moved to the next higher band of the scale. The member shall be given advance notice in writing of the increased subscription thus payable by him/her, and if appropriate may submit evidence of his/her earnings to show why the increase should not apply."

Rule 9(d)

After "defined in clause (a) above," delete "annually, half-annually, quarterly, monthly or weekly,"

Rule 9(f)

Delete "clauses (b) or (bb) above" and insert "clause (b) above"

National Executive Committee

Amendment

In rule 9(bb)(iii) [proposed rule 9(b)(iii)], in first sentence delete "whose subscription has not increased" and insert "whose subscription scale has not been updated or reconfirmed".

Camera Department

Proposition 5/01 (AP5) Head Office

That this annual conference recommends that the right place for the head office is at the present location, and not at Clapham, as has been suggested.

Production Management Support

Amendment

Delete "at the present location" and insert "in the Soho/West End area".

Camera Department

Proposition 8/01 (AP9) BECTU website

That this annual conference instructs the NEC to take immediate steps to upgrade the BECTU website.

As the principal union in the broadcasting, entertainment and multimedia industry, BECTU should have a website worthy of its status, with a content which maximises the opportunities as a means of recruitment and employment, and reflects the national and regional aspect of the organisation.

Featuring leading-edge technology and administered by a dedicated webmaster, among its provisions it should include:

  1. up-to-date information on agreements and legislation;

  2. on-line membership application to aid recruitment;

  3. on-line Crewfinder (or members' directory) to enhance the employment opportunities for freelance members;

  4. interactive notice-boards where National Officials can post information relative to specific divisions and issues (e.g. training, health and safety, etc.) and where members can exchange information, or where employers or members can post job vacancies.

South Wales Freelance

Amendment

In third paragraph, after "1 up-to-date information on agreements and legislation;" insert: "2 a prominent recruitment appeal advertisement panel placed high on the home page to attract potential members, including freelance workers;" then renumber remaining items accordingly; in item 4 delete ", or where employers or members can post job vacancies".

Post Production & Facilities

Proposition 10/01 (AP20) Labour Party affiliation

That this annual conference instructs the NEC to disaffiliate from the Labour Party.

Bush House 2

Amendment

After "disaffiliate" insert "BECTU", and after "Labour Party" insert "and remain disaffiliated until such time as a future conference decides otherwise."

BBC IT Services

Proposition 11/01 (AP21) Political Fund

That this annual conference notes:

  1. The failure of Tony Blair's New Labour Government to defend working class people and the interests of trade unionists.

  2. The growing support for candidates and groups that more closely represent BECTU policy and the interests of BECTU members, such as Ken Livingstone, the Socialist Alliances and the Scottish Socialist Party.

Conference resolves:

  1. That political fund money (other than affiliation fees to the Labour Party nationally and regionally) should be spent on candidates and campaigns that accord more closely with BECTU policies.

  2. Branches should be allowed to give money to groups and political organisations whose aims accord more closely with BECTU's aims and objectives.

  3. Branches should not be allowed to give money to organisations and political parties that are in direct opposition to the aims and objectives of BECTU.

BBC IT Services

Amendment

Delete the final sentence of the proposition (i.e. item 3).

North West Freelance

12/01 (AP6) Financial accountability

That this annual conference instructs the NEC to be fully open and accountable to conference by justifying all BECTU staff pay rises which are substantially above inflation.

Bush House 2

Amendment

Add at end, "or substantially greater than rises won for members in the relevant area."

BBC IT Services

14/01 (AP8) Graduate membership

That this annual conference instructs the NEC to set in motion a system of actively publicising BECTU in the NUS and all universities to ensure that graduates wishing to enter our industry are fully aware of the existence of BECTU, what we do and how to join the Graduates branch.

Graduates & New Entrants

Amendment

After "all" and before "universities" insert "appropriate".

Camera Department

Propositions previously accepted by the SOC with rejected amendments

Proposition 1/01 (AP3) Election of President [alternative A]

[for text see above]

Amendment

Rule 33(b) Delete "Vice President and" from second paragraph to read "The National Executive Committee shall elect the Treasurer from amongst its members." Insert "and Vice President" in following sentence to read "The National Executive Committee shall also include the President and Vice President."

Rule 33(g) Second paragraph insert "or Vice President" to read "a vacancy occur for the position of President or Vice President" Third paragraph insert "and Vice President" to read "election of the National Executive Committee or President and Vice President".

Rule 33(h)(iv) Delete paragraph, insert "The votes for President shall be counted first, followed by the votes for Vice President. Where a candidate has been validly nominated for election to the National Executive Committee as both President and/or Vice President and Divisional Representative, he/she shall, if successfully elected as President or Vice President, not also be elected in any other capacity and the person with the next highest number of votes in the election in the division concerned shall be declared elected as representative of that division."

North West Freelance

SOC's reason for rejection: rule 45(b) under which the proposition is submitted is restrictive and does not permit an amendment to introduce new matter (viz. election of Vice President) beyond the necessary changes.

Proposition 2/01 (AP4) Election of President [alternative B]

[for text see above]

Amendment

Delete "The President, who shall not by virtue of holding that position be a voting member of the National Executive Committee, shall not hold that position for more than thirteen months, nor have held that position in the preceding twelve months."

Insert:

Rule 33g After "Should, for any cause whatsoever, a vacancy occur among the" insert "divisional" After "In the event of there being no such candidate" insert "or should for any cause whatsoever a vacancy occur for the position of President" After "election of the National Executive Committee" insert "or President"

Rule 33(h)(i) Add at end "Candidates for election as President under clause (b) above must be nominated for that position by at least one branch in any of the dividisions in clause (b) above, and otherwise in the same manner as prescribed for the nomination of candidates to represent divisions. Candidates for President shall be voted for by all paid up members irrespective of their division."

Rule 33(h) (iv) Add at end "The votes for President shall be counted first, and where a candidate has been validly nominated for election to the National Executive Committee as both President and divisional representative, he/she shall if successfully elected as President not also be elected in any other capacity, and the person with the next highest number of votes in the election in the division concerned shall be declared elected as a representative for that division."

Delete final paragraph "Consequentially in Appendix C" etc.

Consequentially in rule 33(b) delete "The National Executive Committee shall elect the Vice President and Treasurer from amongst its members." Insert "The National Executive shall elect the Vice President and Treasurer from amongst its members. The National Executive Committee shall also include the President who shall be elected at the same time as the representatives defined above in the manner set out in clause (h) below."

North West Freelance

SOC's reason for rejection: the purported amendment seeks to create a wholly new proposition, rather than to amend an existing proposition.

Last updated 23 April 2001