Pay 1999

193 After negotiations, a final pay offer of 2�6%, with a minimum rise of £500, was put out to ballot. The voting was 81% in favour, 19% against.

BBC Resources and BBC Worldwide

194 On the 28 July 1999 the Davies Committee published its report into the Future Funding of the BBC. Amongst its recommendations were two with very serious implications for BECTU members in the BBC: the privatisation of Resources and the sell-off of 49% of BBC Worldwide. The BBC division mounted a very effective campaign, speaking to MPs from all parties and also meeting with Members of the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly. A written submission had been made to the Davies Committee and a response was drawn up to the report itself. BECTU also made a submission to the Select Committee on Culture Media and Science. An Early Day Motion was tabled and signed by leading backbenchers from across the political spectrum. In December BECTU was called to give evidence to the Select Committee on Culture, Media and Sport. The conclusion of the Select Committee, published just before Christmas last year, was to reject the privatisation of Resources and the partial sell-off of BBC Worldwide. We also met Chris Smith, the Secretary of State with responsibility for making the final decision, and set out the arguments against the proposals.

195 On the 21 February 2000 the Secretary of State announced his decisions on the future funding of the BBC. One of his decisions was to increase the licence fee by 1.5% above inflation for the next seven years. This means that from April 2000, instead of the RPI minus formula imposed by the Conservative government, the licence fee will increase by £3. The government expects the BBC to find £600 million in efficiency savings by 2006, together with an extra £490 million to be raised over the same period by the disposal of BBC assets, partnerships and joint ventures with commercial companies.

196 BECTU welcomed the Secretary of State's decision not to instruct the BBC to dispose of BBC Resources Limited or to sell 49% of BBC Worldwide. This leaves the BBC free to decide whether it should sell assets or make further efficiency savings. BECTU will take steps to prevent the BBC from selling off Resources Limited and Worldwide as part of any proposals to raise the £490 million. Also included in the Secretary of State's decisions was the review of the new BBC channels such as News 24, Choice, etc, and in the future he will hold public consultation prior to approving any new channels. The Director General is expected to make decisions about the future of the Production/Broadcast split and the role of BBC Resources within the next three to six months.

IB division

Community Service Volunteers (Media)

197 Centres in Glasgow and Birmingham faced restructuring announced in December to cut a number of posts due to difficulties in obtaining funding. Eight posts were affected initially; management were persuaded to review closure of four posts.

Granada Media Group

198 The long-running dispute in 1999 involving all four companies - LWT, Granada TV, Yorkshire TV and Tyne Tees - was finally concluded in November when members at LWT voted to accept a revised offer which included consolidation of the 1Civ allowance and improvements to London Weighting. A joint working party agreed as part of the settlement at Granada TV has yet to convene due to efforts to achieve an agreement on the Working Time Regulations. The Granada Media Liaison Group, which brings together representatives from all the recognised unions, will continue to meet in 2000.

ITN

199 In November 1999 the company tabled proposals, which sought to introduce compulsory night working for all staff, linked to key changes in roster patterns. Members foresaw a significant disruption to working and home lives, which they ruled unacceptable. The strength of opposition to management's proposals - across both BECTU and NUJ categories - was unprecedented and prolonged. Having tabled the proposals to the joint unions on the 1 November 1999 management failed to respond to the anger of staff through six negotiating meetings and a period spanning two-days at ACAS. On high turnouts in both unions members voted by more than 80% for strike action which was subsequently called for the 27 and 31 January 2000.

200 Further negotiations took place at ACAS and a revised set of proposals which included a cap on working hours, improved protections on rostering, an improved policy for carers, a voluntary severance package and a two-year pay deal was arrived at. A mass meeting of the joint shops agreed to put the revised proposals to the memberships in a consultative ballot, which closed on the 9 February 2000. Of BECTU's membership 75% of those voting voted to accept the negotiated package and 25% voted against. Participation in BECTU's ballot stood at 68 per cent of the union's membership. In an aggregation of votes across BECTU and NUJ members 78% of those voting were favour of the proposed deal.

Scottish Media Group

201 In January of this year Scottish Media Group, which had just purchased Ginger Media, informed the unions of its intention to close down all in-house Director posts and reduce the number of Producer posts. The company also announced that it wished to cut the salaries of over 100 members of staff who, in their view, are currently earning above the average for the industry. This could result in salary reductions of between £3,000 and £10,000.

202 Meetings of the Grampian branch in Aberdeen on the 20 January and of the Scottish TV branch on the 21 January 2000 voted unanimously for a campaign of industrial action if the management did not agree to the three month consultation process as currently outlined in the agreement. Management agreed this but talks in February failed to reach a conclusion, and a ballot on industrial action was due to end on 17 March 2000.

United News and Media/Carlton merger

203 BECTU, together with representatives from the AEEU, GPMU and NUJ, has formed an alliance of unions representing staff across the two companies. The New Group Unions has met regularly since the announcement of the merger in November 1999. Key issues are employment rights and union recognition within the merged company. A first meeting with the chief executives of UNM and Carlton was scheduled for the 31 January 2000.

Recruitment and retention in the LPD, RPD and Labs divisions

204 The recruitment and retention strategy for the London Production and Regional Production Divisions has been debated and endorsed by both Divisions as it has evolved. It reflects the belief that, in predominantly freelance areas, the key to recruitment and retention is effective service delivery, industrial relevance, and visibility.

205 The early part of 1999 was dominated by efforts to contact members who had failed to adjust their subscriptions in line with the new system. This was very labour-intensive, but ultimately achieved a good success rate. The vast majority of freelances are now paying at the appropriate rate, and many have opted to pay in the higher subscription bands. This is a resounding vote of confidence in the union, and has contributed to the healthy income generated by the two Production divisions.

206 Figures for new recruits are encouraging, but as in previous years retention is still a significant problem. Effective mechanisms for addressing this depend on a reliably functioning membership database.

207 Recruitment in the Labs division is limited. Trade union density is already almost 100%. The culture is such that newcomers are 'automatically' recruited into membership by the convenor. In video cassette duplication there is scope. Technicolor Video and Cinram in East Anglia were targeted. We are currently involved in a 'beauty contest' with the AEEU and the GMB for recognition at Technicolor. Cinram, a large Canadian multinational, is currently resisting any attempts at recognition and the workforce is apprehensive.

Overview of industrial activity in LPD, RPD and Labs

208 Despite concluding a revised Freelance Production Agreement with PACT, which spelled out clear procedures for paid holiday entitlement, there are still major problems in this area, with many employers seeking to reduce rates in order to 'pay for' the new minimum entitlement. At the time of writing we are in dispute with PACT over their interpretation of the Agreement, and we are still waiting for the Sleepy Hollow test case to come before the Employment Tribunal, despite the fact that the claims were lodged a year ago. Pending clear guidance from a Tribunal, we are issuing detailed advice to members on how best to protect their right to paid holidays.

209 A further issue arising from the Working Time Regulations concerns Schedule D freelances. The Inland Revenue argues that Schedule D freelances are automatically excluded from the Regulations. Our legal advice is very different. Again we must await case law to clarify this important question.

210 For the past two years BECTU has been working with the Directors Guild of Great Britain (DGGB), and the Directors and Producers Rights Society (DPRS) in the Directors Rights Campaign, to win proper recognition and rewards for freelance film/TV Directors. During the year a successful series of meetings was held in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, London and Manchester. An agreement covering the engagement of freelance Directors already exists with the BBC. Claims have been lodged with the Welsh producers association TAC which is prepared to open discussions; and with the ITVA and PACT who have refused. Alternative legal options are available where employers refuse to negotiate with us.

211 Where members were obliged to work or offered work over the millennium holiday period, we have provided advice on how to obtain appropriate rates, whether by means of a freelance premium, or by benefiting from collectively-agreed millennium arrangements.

212 Before the 1999 annual conference it was agreed to set up a working party with representation from the LPD Animation branch, and from Animation members in RPD, to draft an Animation claim for submission to PACT and the AFVPA. This task is now under way, and its rate of progress is entirely in the hands of members of the working party.

213 We continue to oppose exploitation of young people and new entrants by 'low budget/no budget' productions, often offering 'deferred pay' deals. We have received legal advice that this practice is now illegal under the National Minimum Wage legislation.

Proposition 23/00 (AP19) The minimum wage

That this annual conference is concerned at the proposals by the Labour government to freeze the minimum wage. Conference therefore calls upon BECTU to campaign through the TUC for a meaningful increase with the aim of achieving a minimum wage of £5 per hour.

Further, that a letter be sent from BECTU to the Prime Minister expressing our opposition to any such freeze on the minimum wage.

London Library & Archive

Proposition 24/00 (AP20) The minimum wage

That this annual conference condemns the New Labour government's decision to freeze the level of the minimum wage.

Conference agrees that BECTU publicly demand the minimum wage be raised immediately to a figure of £5.00 an hour with no exceptions.

Conference agrees that BECTU immediately campaign for this demand by:

• Including the £5.00 per hour minimum wage in all wage demands where appropriate and organising industrial action to win it
• Sending a letter of condemnation to the Prime Minister
• Organising a protest of the next meeting of the Low Pay Commission
• Organising a national demonstration in London calling on other trade unions and organisations to join with us.

Royal Opera House

SOC note The movers of proposition 24 are urged to consider withdrawing it in favour of proposition 23.

214 The union continues to provide individual support to freelance members faced by employers who refuse to pay properly for work done. This is a continuing industrial problem in the freelance area, only slightly alleviated by the 1988 Late Payment of Debts Act.

Member services

215 LPD and RPD have supported the BECTU Skillsbase project since its inception. Reports have been received from the management committee, officials have given time and support to the Skillsbase advisors and have picked up queries from clients, and information about the project has been distributed to members.

216 Following the collapse of the MediaTrack CD-ROM we opened negotiations with Miller Freeman, publishers of The Knowledge, seeking special access for BECTU freelance members to their website and CD-ROM. Talks have progressed throughout 1999 and into 2000. At the time of writing we have agreed in principle on a favourable package, and are discussing the text of a formal agreement. Complex issues of data protection and privacy are involved, and we are of course taking appropriate legal and professional advice.

Proposition 25/00 (AP5) On-line directory/employment service

That this annual conference asks the NEC to undertake a feasibility study into setting up an on-line directory/employment service which would allow freelance members to post their CVs on the site, with photographs and signposts to samples of their work if necessary, and which would allow employers free access to search those sites to meet their requirements. On completion of the study, if the results are positive, conference asks that implementation of such a service be undertaken with all due speed.

North West Freelance

217 The Abbey Life Freelance Pension scheme established in the 1980s has effectively been closed to new entrants for some years, after intervention by the Inland Revenue. Since then the union has been unable to offer a pension scheme tailored to the needs of its freelance members. We are now looking at new options to put such a scheme in place, bearing in mind the advent of 'stakeholder' schemes and the prospect of new legal obligations on both employers and workers to make pension provisions. The union is in discussion with CGU with the aim of reaching heads of agreement before conference 2000. A supplementary report may be given.

Proposition 26/00 (AP10) Pensions advice

That this annual conference, in view of the lack of any pensions scheme for freelances, the age profile of the union, and the difficulties many members have who have changed employment a number of times, asks that the NEC explores with urgency the possibility of independent individual pensions advice being made available to all freelance members as a service of the union. In addition, this conference asks that the NEC continue to explore the possibility of a freelance pension scheme, which would be available to all freelances, and report back to the next conference with their findings on such a scheme.

North West Freelance

218 The first issue of It's a Rap was produced and distributed in the autumn of 1999. This is intended to be a regular newsletter for members in LPD and RPD.

219 A comprehensive Freelance Survey was conducted in the second half of the year, which generated over 600 responses from freelances. We now have up-to-date information on earnings and hours worked in different areas of production to inform our negotiating strategies with PACT and the AFVPA, and our rates advice to individual members. In addition we have valuable data on health & safety management, insurance cover, and training provision in the freelance sector. Finally, the survey found that the union service which freelance members find most useful is the legal service, followed by advice on rates and contracts, and insurance.

220 The strength of sterling and lower labour costs elsewhere in Europe continue to have a negative effect on film processing and video cassette duplication in Britain. There have been major redundancies in Metrocolor, Technicolor and DeLuxe Laboratories in the last year. DeLuxe is in the process of building a new lab in Rome, due to start production in September 2000. Carlton have indicated that following their merger with UNM the laboratory and video cassette duplication plants are likely to be sold off. Technicolor already has two labs in Rome and appears to be able to process film as fast as we can, and at far lower unit costs. DeLuxe is experiencing fierce competition from Europe, and has had a difficult year with some redundancies in the administrative section.

221 Most of our industrial work in this area has centred on health & safety issues, negotiating fair redundancy deals, introducing the Working Time Directive and reaching agreement on it, and annual pay negotiations. The three largest labs have also undergone major restructuring of staff following redundancy in an effort to achieve what management refer to as 'flexibility' and we call 'multiskilling'.