Introduction to the NEC's Report to Conference

The last year has been an extremely busy and successful year for BECTU. We are on the brink of achieving some very important breakthroughs in areas where we have been seeking recognition and have been able to use to good effect the provisions of the Employment Relations Act. We have for the first time in the last five years ended the year with a surplus of income over expenditure. We are on the brink of achieving a major victory against the UK government in the European Court of Justice. We have launched in partnership with the Norwich Union the BECTU Stakeholder Pension Scheme which we believe will become the industry standard. We have in co-operation with the Directors Guild achieved a groundbreaking victory in respect of payments for rights. We have achieved preferential rights for our freelance members to be included in the Artism on-line directory and are currently in discussions with other organisations.

We are planning to introduce a new legal advice service for members and their families whereby they will be able to obtain legal advice 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. We are hoping to launch this service in June this year.

In putting together the report for this year's conference I have tried to be mindful, with the National Executive Committee, of the debate which took place at the union's 2000 conference regarding the structure and content of conference. Whilst it would be possible to mount a more engaging event than the union's traditional annual conference, it is clear to me that if we were to do so it would be at the cost of democratic accountability - a price I believe not worth paying. The report we have set out for you should allow delegates a proper opportunity to examine at least the major projects that the National Executive Committee has been involved in since conference 2000, and for you to give your verdict. Whilst I am sure there are areas where we have not achieved all that was hoped last year, there is much for BECTU and its members to be proud of. We have for the first time included as an Appendix to the annual conference report the text of the propositions that were carried and remitted at last year's conference, together with a brief summary of what action has been taken on these propositions.

Roger Bolton
General Secretary