BECTU NEC Report to 2003 Conference appendix A: Propositions carried and remitted at the 2002 Conference
Rule changes
Rule 5
(b) to obtain membership in the union of all persons employed or engaged in the broadcasting, cinematograph, theatre, entertainment and allied industries, and of such other persons as may be deemed eligible from time to time by conference or by the National Executive Committee;
(l) 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; [replaces previous clause (l)]
(n) [deleted in its entirety - subsequent clauses re-lettered accordingly]
Rule 9
(g) 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.
[new clause]
Rule 33
(e) Each candidate for election to the National Executive Committee must be a paid-up member of the union and shall give his/her consent in writing. 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. Candidates may stand for election for a division of which they are a member. Should a member, for any cause whatsoever, transfer to another division, that member must resign from the National Executive Committee and the vacancy be filled in accordance with rule 33(g).
Rule 40
(i) 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. [new clause (i) - previous clause (i) and subsequent clauses re-lettered accordingly]
National Executive Committee's response: The rule changes were circulated to members as an insert in the June 2002 issue of Stage Screen & Radio, and a complete reprint of the rule book "as altered 2002" was issued to new members and on request from the same month.
Propositions carried
Proposition 4/02 (AP4) Cost of new premises
That this annual conference instructs [the NEC to provide] full details of the cost of purchasing and renovating the new premises in Clapham to divisional committees.
National Executive Committee's response: This information was provided to divisional committees in January 2003.
Proposition 5/02 (AP5) Facilities for members
That this annual conference instructs the NEC to make adequate and appropriate facilities available at the union's head office for the use of members, which should include as a minimum:- A members' meeting room
- A computer suite with Internet access
- A resource library, accessible to all members
National Executive Committee's response: The union's new head office has a members' meeting room equipped with three computers, all with internet access and resource facilities available to those members using the meeting room.
Proposition 6/02 (AP15) Working hours
That this annual conference [calls] for tighter control over hours with regard to the European Working Time Directive and the implementation of a ceiling for realistic working hours.National Executive Committee's response: BECTU has made submissions to the Department of Trade and Industry and the European Commission, and in particular has opposed any UK extension to the derogation to the Working Time Directive. We have also supported all of the relevant propositions on this matter at the Trades Union Congress.
Proposition 8/02 (AP10) Equal opportunities
That this annual conference [believes] that BECTU should endeavour to employ substantially more women staff in senior positions. Annual conference requires that the NEC should monitor the gender balance of BECTU's staff, particularly at senior levels, and that it should publish, within BECTU, the current ratio, on an annual basis.National Executive Committee's response: The NEC is committed to continuing to report this information to the union's annual conference.
Proposition 11/02 (AP14) Regional broadcasting
That this annual conference urges BECTU to lobby at all levels to preserve the regional nature of ITV and to strengthen the commitment to regional programming in terms of programme spend.
National Executive Committee's response: The central base of BECTU's campaign on the Communications Bill has been to preserve and strengthen the commitment to regional broadcasting.
Proposition 12/02 (AP18) Organising for Growth
That this annual conference proposes a programme of cross-divisional Organising for Growth courses be initiated to facilitate greater contact and co-operation between divisions.
National Executive Committee's response: The two cross-divisional organising for growth courses have been implemented but there has been some disappointment in respect of the level of participation by members of some divisional committees.
Proposition 13/02 (AP6) Recruitment and retention policy
That this annual conference instructs that the recruitment and retention policy be reviewed to ensure that a thorough evaluation of the strengths and weaknesses evident from previous years are taken into account and the policy meets the changing needs of our union.
National Executive Committee's response: This is current policy. It was current policy when the proposition was carried in 2002. It remains current policy and the recruitment and retention policies are set out in detail in the NEC's report to conference.
Proposition 15/02 (AP16) Stakeholder pensions
That this annual conference requests the NEC to [propose at Congress] that the TUC will press the Government for compulsory contributions on stakeholder pensions of 5% by all employers.
National Executive Committee's response: The NEC submitted the following proposition to the 2002 Trades Union Congress on the subject of pensions:
In the light of the recent examples of employers ending or reducing the benefits of company pension schemes; of the spate of negative publicity about the future of occupational pensions; and of the consequent concerns on pensions felt by workers in all sectors; Congress calls on the General Council to reinforce its campaigning on pension issues, encompassing the following elements:
- The aim that all workers should have access to a secure income in retirement that enables them at least to maintain a standard of living comparable to their final years of employment.
- The need to protect and modernise good final salary schemes; to promote good defined contribution schemes; and to work to make a success of stakeholder pensions.
- The principle that employers have a shared long-term responsibility for decent pension provision.
- That employers should be able to require workers to become members of any final salary scheme operated by that employer.
- The need to examine the continuing impact of the new minimum funding requirement (MFR) and the new accounting standard FRS17 but also to counter exaggerated claims about the supposed drawbacks of final salary schemes.
- Opposition to contribution holidays or reductions by employers.
- The need for minimum compulsory employer contributions to all forms of occupational pension, including stakeholder schemes; and with the specific inclusion of freelance and casual workers.
- The need to highlight and oppose any negative implications for occupational pensions arising from any proposed introduction of a flexible retirement age.
Proposition 18/02 (AP13) Ageism
That this annual conference instructs the NEC to ensure that discrimination against age is challenged in all BECTU equality material in the same way as other forms of discrimination.
National Executive Committee's response: The NEC believes that it is complying with the requirements of this proposition.
Proposition 20/02 (AP12) Childcare allowance
That this annual conference recognises that there is a need to increase the participation of women members at all levels within the union. Conference therefore instructs the NEC to raise the expenses [currently payable] towards childcare to £5.00 an hour with a ceiling of £40.00 per day with immediate effect.
National Executive Committee's response: This was put into effect immediately at the end of the union's 2002 conference.
Emergency proposition 6 Colombia
This conference condemns the recent spate of violence, kidnapping and murders of trade union activists in Colombia. Conference therefore instructs the National Executive Committee to explore ways of offering solidarity with trade unionists in Colombia.
National Executive Committee's response: The NEC has sought to support trade unionists in Colombia through our international affiliations and through all other possible means.
Propositions remitted
Proposition 2/02 (AP2) Location of conference
That this annual conference requests the NEC to look for a location for the 2004 BECTU conference outside England, with Ireland as the preferred choice.
National Executive Committee's response: This will be dealt with in the main NEC report to the union's 2003 conference.
Proposition 3/02 (AP3) Premises
That this annual conference [instructs the NEC to consider] that on completion of the refurbishment at 111 Wardour Street a BECTU presence and facility is maintained in part of the building to keep a high profile in the West End of London and to encourage recruitment.
National Executive Committee's response: The NEC have continued to keep this under review but given the fall in rental values in central London it is extremely unlikely that we will be able to retain a presence in 111 Wardour Street.
Proposition 10/02 (AP17) Poverty pay in the entertainment industry
That this conference [calls on the NEC to] campaign against the shamefully low rates of pay prevalent in our industry. Conference calls for a minimum rate of pay to be established that allows BECTU members a decent rate of pay without reliance on overtime and get-out payments to make ends meet.
National Executive Committee's response: This was referred to the A&E divisional committee who have conducted a number of successful campaigns aimed at improving the basic take-home pay of low paid workers.
Emergency proposition 2/02 Communications Bill
If the Government proceeds with its planned removal of the prohibitions on media ownership and cross media ownership as laid out in the new Communications Bill then BECTU will proceed to review its affiliation to the Labour Party at its next annual conference or at a special conference if the Bill is passed earlier.
This conference instructs the NEC to give notice to the Labour Party to this effect immediately.
National Executive Committee's response: This will be dealt with in the main body of the NEC's report to the 2003 conference.
Emergency proposition 4/02 Moldova
This Conference notes the recent European Council resolution imposed on the Communist Government in Moldova to reform state TV and radio, giving better and more open freedom of speech. This conference recognises that this resolution was reached largely as a result of protests by Media Workers in Moldova who have campaigned tirelessly, and under some danger, to gain these human rights.
In recognition BECTU should send a letter of support to these Media workers, encouraging them to continued their efforts to ensure that an end to undemocratic media censorship in this country finally comes to an end.
This conference further instructs the NEC to take whatever action it feels necessary to encourage sister Trade Unions and the TUC in general to support media workers in Moldova and similarly less democratic countries around the world.
National Executive Committee's response: The NEC have been unable to locate any relevant person to send a resolution to in Moldova, although it has continued to offer support through our international affiliations.