Proposals debated at Conference 2004
All decisions on proposed propositions (motions) considered by the BECTU Annual Conference at Liverpool on 8 May 2004.
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 (National Executive Committee) 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- WITHDRAWN - proposal removed by those who submitted the motion and therefore not considered by Conference.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 1/04 (AP1) General Officers
That this annual conference expresses its wish for the elections of all General Officers to be by a ballot of all members of the union and not just by the NEC, the details of any such ballot to be determined by the NEC for incorporation in the rule book at the appropriate rules revision/annual conference.
Proposition 2/04 (SRS2) Rule Book Appendix C
That this annual conference, in a special rules session, approves the following alteration to rule under rule 45(b):
In Appendix C insert new standing order 27 as follows: "27 All members of the NEC are bound by collective responsibility for decisions taken by the NEC."
Re-number existing by-law 27 as by-law 28.
Consequentially, in by-law 25 delete "standing orders 1-11 and 13" and insert "standing orders 1-11, 13, and 26-28"
CARRIED
At end of proposed new standing order 27, delete full stop and insert "except in matters of personal conscience."
LOSTProposition 3/04 (AP2) Venue of conference
That this annual conference recommends that the National Executive Committee consider a venue outside England for the 2006 conference. Additionally, should conference 2005 be convened in one of the Nations, priority will be given to another Nation [in 2006].
Proposition 3a/04 (RP5) Annual Conference
The Hair and Make-Up Branch requests that this Annual Conference reassess it's position on the holding annual conference outside of London and to look at what savings could be made by holding conference in London.
Proposition 4/04 (AP10) BECTU badge
That this annual conference considers the present BECTU badge too small to show clearly. Conference believes that the badge should be enlarged so that others can see more clearly that we as members are proud to show the badge.
Proposition 5/04 (SRS1) Rule 9(b)(i)
That this annual conference, in a special rules session, approves the following alteration to rule under rule 9(e):
In rule 9(b)(i) delete the line "over £30,000 £25.00 £300.00"
and insert new lines as follows:
£30,001-£32,500 £25.00 £300.00
£32,501-£35,000 £27.08 £325.00
£35,001-£37,500 £29.17 £350.00
£37,501-£40,000 £31.25 £375.00
£40,001 and over £33.33 £400.00
Proposition 6/04 (AP6) Retirement branch
That this annual conference instructs the National Executive [Committee] to investigate the possibility of forming a retirement branch or branches. This is on the understanding that this branch or these branches would not be a drain on union resources.
Proposition 7/04 (AP7) Retired members' forum
That this annual conference recognises that rapid advances have been made in the fields of medical-human and technological resources resulting in extended life expectancy. Conference is further aware that there are no facilities available within BECTU for the increase in retired members of the union. Conference urges the NEC to explore the possibility of creating a retired members' forum solely for persons who have reached retirement whilst being a member of the union. Retired members can be invited to attend their respective divisional committees, to observe and advise. This would also be an influence on the induction of the new members to the union.
Proposition EP1/04 The Hutton Inquiry
This BECTU Conference is dismayed by, and rejects, the one-sided conclusions of the Hutton Report, published on 28 January 2004, and stands by the right of the journalist Andrew Gilligan, the programme and the BBC to have broadcast Dr Kelly's remarks in the public interest. It also welcome the protests held by BBC workers and those called by the NUJ and BECTU against Government interference in the BBC.
Conference believes it is not in the interest of BECTU members or the general public if the journalists work under threat of government.
This BECTU Conference therefore instructs the NEC to continue its work with the NUJ and to join, and publicise widely, the lobby of Parliament and MPs on 19 May 2004 called by the NUJ in defence of public service broadcasting.
This Conference further instructs the NEC to work with the leadership of the NUJ to build a campaign to defend the BBC, and the broadcast industry in general, from interference from government ministers.
Proposition 8/04 (AP20) UAF affiliation
That this annual conference notes with concern the rise in popularity of the BNP and their increasing electoral success in the past few years. It therefore welcomes the coming together of anti-racist organisations, activists and trade unions to form Unite Against Fascism (UAF). This conference believes that BECTU should continue to be at the heart of the struggle against racism and fascism and therefore instructs the NEC to affiliate BECTU to UAF.
Proposition 9/04 (AP21) Affiliation to the Stop the War Coalition
That this annual conference is concerned at the large numbers of civilians and troops from all sides who have lost their lives as a result of the war and ongoing occupation of Iraq.
Conference also notes the historic demonstrations organised by the Stop the War Coalition against the war itself and the visit of George W Bush to Britain. Stop the War is continuing to campaign against the occupation of Iraq, and to prevent wars in Iran, Syria and North Korea. Conference believes it is not in this country's interest to pursue such wars, and therefore instructs BECTU to affiliate to the Stop the War Coalition.
Proposition 10/04 (AP22) Resignation of the Prime Minister
That this annual conference, in view of the Prime Minister's duplicity and deceit in involving the British armed forces in an illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq, which has resulted in the tragic loss of innocent lives and the maiming of others, asks delegates from BECTU to the TUC and Labour Party conferences to argue the issue of the Prime Minister's resignation and a new trade union orientated leadership.
Proposition 11/04 (AP15) BBC Technology sell-off
That this annual conference deplores the decision by the BBC to sell off BBC Technology Ltd. Conference pledges its full support to the campaign to persuade the government to stick to the policy of no privatisation adopted in 2000 during the public debate on the future of the BBC licence fee.
Proposition 12/04 (AP3) Membership retention
That this annual conference believes we must do all we can to retain members. Conference therefore instructs the General Secretary to send a yearly round-up of BECTU's achievements to each member, with a personal message thanking them for their support.
Proposition 13/04 (AP18) Diversity and access on television
That this annual conference notes the demise of BBC's Picture This and 10x10, and Channel 4's Short Stories, as properly funded new directors' slots. It further notes the closure of BBC's Community programmes and Disability programmes units. It instructs the NEC to make representations to all public service broadcasters seeking the preservation of diversity and access for new talent and different voices on television.
Amendment
After "and 10x10," add "Carlton's Metroland,"
Proposition 14/04 (AP19) Public holidays
That this annual conference notes that in England and Wales only eight bank and public holidays are generally given per year, fewer than any other EU member state and three days fewer than the EU average.
Conference calls upon the government to increase the number of public holidays by two per year and that the new public holidays reflect our multicultural society.
Conference resolves that BECTU shall put forward resolutions to this effect at the TUC and Labour Party conferences.
Proposition 14a/04 (RP6) Holiday pay
The Hair and Make-Up Branch requests that this Annual Conference notes the practise used by employers of incorporating holiday pay into weekly rates, but holding this element back for payment at the end of the contract. This effectively avoids real holiday pay obligations being met by employers. The Hair and Make-Up branch call upon this conference to highlight this issue and pressurise Government to amend the Working Time Regulations to make this practise unlawful.
Proposition 15/04 (AP5) Services for unemployed members
That this annual conference instructs the NEC to establish a proper and effective channel for long-term unemployed members to be heard as a body and to be supported in exploring possibilities for re-employment. Currently these members are finding that existing occupational branches are unable to serve them adequately as unemployed persons.
Proposition 16/04 (AP13) Broadcasting in Scotland
That this annual conference request of the Scottish Parliament that it investigate and report on the contribution of the broadcasting industry to Scottish culture in the last five years, with a view to making its views on the influence of broadcasting on Scottish culture known and available to decision-makers, particularly at the UK Parliament, and that it repeat this survey at regular intervals.
Proposition 17/04 (AP14) Broadcasting regulation
That this annual conference, recognising that Scotland, while remaining within the UK, has its own distinctive cultural and political climate, instructs the NEC to campaign for broadcasting regulation in Scotland to be devolved to the Scottish Parliament.
Proposition 18/04 (AP16) Film distribution
That this annual conference requests the NEC to instruct the Research Officer to prepare a report on monopolistic barriers to British films being distributed and exhibited in the UK.
Proposition 19/04 (AP17) Feature films
That this annual conference notes with pleasure that investment in feature films made in the UK has reached record levels. The number of British films made has however decreased and conference requests the NEC to formulate detailed proposals whereby some of the vast profits made are allocated to the development, production, distribution, exhibition, promotion and marketing of indigenous films reflecting British culture, probably by way of a box-office levy.
Proposition 20/04 (AP12) Safety
That this annual conference instructs the National Executive Committee to re-examine the current Health and Safety at Work legislation, especially the role of safety officers with particular emphasis on the problems of freelance workers in the broadcasting and entertainment industry, and to provide branches with a clear summary of the most salient points so that members can use them in dealing with recalcitrant employers.
Proposition 20a/04 (RP7) Working schedules
The Hair and Make-Up Branch requests that this Annual Conference notes that production companies are drafting working schedules on the basis of shooting hours i.e. 12hrs. These schedules do not take into consideration grades such as Hair and Make-Up and Costume and Wardrobe and production staff, who are required to work extra hours either side of the shooting schedule, breaking not only the 11hr break, but also well in excess of the working time regulations of a maximum 48hr working week. The Hair and Make-Up branch call upon this conference to instruct our representatives to lobby employers and government in order to campaign for an end to this practise.
Proposition 21/04 (AP11) Health and Safety official
That this annual conference believes that health and safety should be given a higher priority than currently appears to be the case within our union nationally. To this end, conference requests that BECTU appoint a full-time national Health and Safety official, to promote health and safety issues within the organisation and offer improved support to local health and safety representatives across the union.
Proposition 21a/04 (RP8) Training
That this annual conference recognises the importance of training both union officers and lay officials to underpin the recruitment and retention strategy, and instructs the NEC to:
- ensure that the election of Union Learning Representatives is included in the agenda of all branch AGMs, and
- ensure that every branch elects at least one person to co-ordinate learning for the branch.
Proposition 22/04 (AP4) Information Officer
That this annual conference instructs the NEC to commission an independent feasibility study into the possibility of appointing a full-time official with the specific responsibility of collating and disseminating information relevant to or pertaining to BECTU.
The duties of such an officer would include:
- compiling and managing an IT database of relevant information on behalf of staff and members;
- forwarding said information to staff, members, press and interested parties, as appropriate;
- producing, ratifying and publicising a diary of key dates and events relevant to BECTU staff and members.
Proposition 23/04 (AP8) Stage Screen & Radio
That this annual conference calls on the NEC to establish an Editorial Board for Stage Screen & Radio, to ensure editorial independence and a range and balance of members' views.
Proposition 24/04 (AP9) Stage Screen & Radio
That this annual conference asserts the right of all members to write letters for publication in Stage Screen & Radio so long as their contributions are of a reasonable length and contain no obscene, racist or libellous material. It demands that the journal should have editorial independence and not be subject to censorship by the General Secretary or any other officer.