BECTU Rules Revision Conference 2002 agenda

Listed on this page are proposed changes to the BECTU Rules.

AR1 Rule 5(b)

After "to obtain" insert "100%"

AR2 Rule 5(b)

After "all persons employed" insert "or engaged"

AR3 Rule 5(l)

Delete clause (l) in its entirety and replace with:

"To defend and actively promote equal rights and equal opportunities in the workplace, in the union's structures and in the community, and to challenge all forms of discrimination irrespective of gender, race, sexuality, disability, age or religion;"

AR4 Rule 5(n)

Delete clause (n) and re-letter subsequent clauses accordingly

AR5 Rule 5(q)

Delete clause (q) in its entirety and replace with:

"To establish an industrial dispute fund through a levy on membership subscription of 10p per week or 40p per month, to provide pay and benefits to members who face hardship as a result of taking part in industrial action, or who are locked out by their employer;"

AR6 Rule 9(b)(iii)

Delete "submit evidence of his/her earnings to show" and insert "give reason in writing to state"

AR7 Rule 9(f)

Delete clause (f)

AR8 Rule 9(g) [new]

Insert new clause (g) as follows:

"In order to continue offering public liability insurance to freelance members of the union, the National Executive Committee shall be empowered to levy on those members a charge in respect of each policy year in such amount as it shall determine in relation to the group premium payable. Only those freelance members who have paid this levy will be eligible for BECTU's public liability insurance cover."

AR9 Rule 10(v)

Delete clause (v)

AR10 Rule 17

Delete rule 17 and re-number subsequent rules accordingly

AR11 Rule 18

Delete rule 18 in its entirety and replace with:

"(a) All members in receipt of a pension, or who have reached state retirement age and are not in other paid employment in industry, provided they are members in good standing of the union for not less than five years, shall be transferred to retired members status.

(b) Retired members shall be entitled to attend the branch meetings of the last branch they were last a full member of and to vote and speak on issues not relating to the pay and conditions of those in employment. They will be entitled to stand for election only to positions within the retired members' forum.

(c) The National Executive Committee shall establish a retired members' forum, which shall be convened twice annually and shall be composed of representatives of the retired membership nominated by their branch.

(d) Retired members shall have the right to receive the union's journal, to have any intellectual property rights administered for them by relevant associate collecting societies or agencies of BECTU, to make application to the benevolent fund and to attend conference as an observer at their own expense."

SOC note: the proposed rule alteration as it stands makes no provision regarding the subscription payable (if any) by retired members

AR12 Rule 23

Delete rule 23 in its entirety and replace with:

"(a) The union shall publish a periodical journal circulated free of charge to all paid-up members and honorary members at their nominated address.

(b) The editor shall be a paid official of the union, responsible for the regular production of the journal and reporting, through the General Secretary, to the union's National Executive Committee.

(c) The journal shall report on the activities of the union and its members, act as a forum for the views of members and promote the policies of the union and its leading bodies.

(d) The editorial line and content of the journal shall at all times be consistent with the policies of the union and the aims of strengthening the unity of workers in the broadcasting, cinematography, entertainment and theatre and related industries, encouraging solidarity with other workers in Britain and abroad.

(e) The principal content of the journal will be news and reportage of the trade union activities of BECTU members, news and feature material on the working lives, professional concerns and activities of BECTU members, matters of general importance to BECTU members and their families as working people and citizens, and coverage of the activities and problems of working people, the labour and trade union movement in Britain and abroad."

AR13 Rule 33(b) and consequentials

Delete "The National Executive Committee shall elect the Vice-President and Treasurer from amongst its members." and after "The National Executive Committee shall also include the President" insert ", Vice-President and Treasurer";

Consequentially,

in rule 33(g) after "position of President" insert ", the position of Vice-President or the position of Treasurer" and after "or President" insert ", Vice-President and Treasurer";

in rule 33(h)(i) delete "Candidates for election as President under clause (b) above must be nominated for that position" and insert "Candidates for election as President, Vice-President and Treasurer under clause (b) above must be nominated for those positions" and after "Candidates for President" insert ", Vice-President and Treasurer";

in rule 33(h)(iv) delete all after first sentence and replace with:

"Candidates may stand for only one of the three offices of President, Vice-President or Treasurer at any one time. The votes for President, Vice-President and Treasurer shall be counted first. Where a candidate has been validly nominated for election to the National Executive Committee as both President or Vice-President or Treasurer and divisional representative, he/she shall if successfully elected as President, Vice-President or Treasurer 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."

SOC note: The first part of the proposed consequential alteration to rule 33(h)(iv) was not included in the rule changes proposed by the North West Freelance and Royal Opera House branch. If those branches are not willing to accept the proposed composite rule alteration as set out above, SOC recommends them to submit an amendment to achieve their intentions.

AR14 Rule 33(e)

After second sentence insert: "Nothing in 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. Only one job-sharing member may attend each meeting and in the event of one resigning the other must also do so, creating a vacancy to which rule 33(g) will apply."

SOC note: It is understood that this proposed provision would be compatible with the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992, s.51.

AR15 Rule 33(f)

Delete "two years" and insert "one year"

SOC note: Though a consequential amendment is not strictly required, this proposed provision has a bearing on rule 40(d)

AR16 Rule 33(j)

After "half its membership" add "and that all its members shall be free to vote for or against or to abstain from voting on any question."

SOC note: A consequential amendment requires to be made in Appendix C, standing order 20

AR17 Rule 33(k)

Delete the words "If three or more members of the National Executive Committee call for a named vote immediately before the vote is taken,"

AR18 Rule 33(r)

After "The National Executive Committee shall instruct the General Secretary to" delete the words "draw up minutes" and replace with "arrange for the Administrative Officer or a member of the clerical staff to take the minutes and that the proceedings should be recorded on audiotape/disk."

AR19 Rule 36(c)

After first sentence insert: "National Executive Committee members shall report back to the relevant divisional committee fully and freely except on matters of true confidentiality."

AR20 Rule 40(a)(ii)

After "members of the National Executive Committee of the union who shall have the right to speak" insert the words "subject only to the same restrictions as delegates"

SOC note: SOC points out that this proposed provision as it stands would apply also to the General Secretary and Assistant General Secretaries

AR21 Rule 40(b)

Delete last sentence and replace with "An observer may speak at the discretion of the chair but shall have no right to vote."

AR22 Rule 40(i) [new]

Add new clause (i) as follows and re-letter existing clause (i) and following clauses accordingly:

"The National Executive Committee shall positively encourage all non-delegate members resident in the geographical area in which the conference is being held to attend and participate as observers."

AR23 Rule 40(l)

Delete existing wording and replace with:

"Voting at meetings of conference shall be by poll of delegates, by show of hands. All questions before conference shall be decided by the majority vote of the delegates present and voting."

Enabling motion [not susceptible to amendment]

As part of its report to conference SOC will propose, at the conclusion of the business of the rules revision conference, the following enabling motion:

"Conference adopts and approves the rules of BECTU as altered at this rules revision conference, subject to the incorporation of such numbering, cross-referencing, grammatical and other consequential changes of text as are required to implement the alterations to rules."