News archives 1999

Many broadcasting and entertainment workers on duty over the Millennium will receive union-negotiated bonuses.

New Year shows in London theatres threatened with strike action will now go ahead without disruption.

Stalled negotiations with UK commercials employers have reopened in an attempt to reach a new agreement.

A Parliamentary Committee has advised the government to reject plans to sell BBC Resources and Worldwide.

Theatre members around the UK have endorsed an improved pay offer which will be backdated to 4 October.

ITN faces industrial action in January after BECTU and NUJ members voted to run a strike ballot.

Staff at ITN could be balloted for strike action after reoganisation talks broke down.

Chris Smith, Culture Minister, is due to consider two reports on the BBC over the New Year break.

BECTU members in six West End theatres are balloting for strike action over the Millennium holiday period.

BECTU and Equity have come together in the Behind the Scenes Campaign to improve working conditions.

31 December is the deadline for applications to BECTU's free careers advice service Skillsbase.

National Training Organisation Skillset is offering full funding for NVQs from a nearly £1m budget.

Only a last minute meeting at ACAS can now head off industrial action at ITN.

BECTU will be explaining its opposition to BBC privatisation at meetings with the Culture Minister and MPs.

UK film and television Directors are invited to attend a key meeting on 25 November in London.

LWT members have voted by 79% to accept an improved pay package and settle the long running dispute at the company.

MPs from all the main parties have condemned the threatened privatisation of BBC Resources and Worldwide.

ITN staff have called for a strike ballot if the company forces through changes in terms and conditions.

BECTU's response to the BBC Licence fee report consultation argues strongly against privatisation.

BECTU will not be taking part in the ballot for the selection of the Labour Party candidate for London's Mayor.

Members working on commercials will be sticking to the rules after talks on a new agreement collapsed.

BECTU's legal challenge to deferred pay productions has sparked digital debate amongst independent filmmakers.

BECTU has issued detailed Working Time Regulation advice for freelance Hair & Make-Up Artists.

BECTU has vacancies for two National Officials and a Finance Officer based at the union's Head Office.

Commercial theatres across the UK could go dark on New Year's Eve unless a row over payments is resolved.

Time is running out for union members hoping to lobby their MPs over the sale of BBC Resources and BBC Worldwide.

BECTU has rejected the latest offer of revised minimum pay rates in regional theatres.

BECTU LWT Branch is considering balloting on a new management offer to resolve the long-running pay dispute.

BECTU Branches are invited to nominate members to fill a remaining vacancy on the union's Standing Orders Committee.

Substantial progress across broadcasting has been made in negotiating Millennium compensation.

The vacancy on the BECTU NEC has been filled in a by-election by Anne Buckland from Scottish Television.

More than 100 jobs are to go with the closure of BBC Film Unit, and programme cuts at BBC World.

BECTU is taking its campaign against BBC privatisation to the political party conferences this month.

No ballot of members is required in the BECTU AGS elections following unopposed nominations.

The TUC has backed unanimously a BECTU motion opposing the proposed privatisation of BBC Resources.

Industry cooperation has prevented a Channel 4 funded production from employing FAA members at below union rates.

National Theatre members are celebrating a victory at ACAS which has resulted in an extra 0.5% over and above an imposed pay rise.

London Weekend Television (LWT) are to meet BECTU at ACAS on 20 September for talks aimed at resolving the long-running dispute over pay.

BECTU Branches are invited to nominate members for the office of BECTU Trustee.

BECTU has agreed to a trial run for a new staff appointment system at the BBC, after management responded to union concerns by modifying the scheme.

Advice for BBC staff appealing against decisions arising from this year's salary management decisions.

A vacancy on the NEC will be filled by a by-election for which nominations are invited from Branches.

BECTU's NEC has agreed to modify the contractual terms for new Assistant General Secretary positions.

BECTU Branches are invited to nominate members for vacancies on the Standing Orders and Appeals Committees.

BECTU members in BBC Resources have voted for a work to rule following the collapse of talks on working time.

Roy Lockett, BECTU's Deputy General Secretary, will be retiring on 15 August after more than 30 years' service.

BECTU has accused a government advisory committee of vandalising the BBC after it recommends selling off BBC Resources Ltd and nearly half of BBC Worldwide.

Industrial action at LWT, home of ITV football, could be stepped up just as new commentator Des Lynam arrives.

Union members at Granada TV have voted for a revised pay offer by a margin of 9 to 1.

BECTU intervention on a London East End production has resulted in the employment of FAA members for the remainder of the film.

A deputation of BECTU members fighting redundancies in Ulster Television has met all the main Northern Ireland political parties.

An industrial action ballot on the Working Time Directive is now due to begin in BBC Resources on 19 July.

A row over BBC Millennium working has been resolved following discussions with Corporation management.

Press leaks have revealed that the Davies review committee could recommend the privatisation of BBC Resources and advertising on some TV channels.

BECTU's has a vacancy for a Secretary based at the union's Cardiff office.

Transmitter company Castle Transmission International has proposed pay rates of up to 8T for the Millennium New Year.

BECTU's members working for the English National Opera are being advised to accept a new pay offer.

Two health and safety courses for BECTU Safety Representatives have been arranged for October and November 1999.

An industrial action ballot of BECTU members in BBC Resources, due to begin on 12 July, has been postponed for one week after management threatened legal action against the union.

Negotiations at ACAS over new pay and conditions for backstage staff at the English National Opera have been adjourned until Monday July 12.

Details of the new Assistant General Secretary elections have been agreed at the 4 July meeting of the union's National Executive Committee.

Following management withdrawal from Working Time Regulation talks an industrial action ballot in BBC Resources has been confirmed.

Intensified industrial action at Granada TV has been suspended whilst a ballot is held on a revised pay offer.

A new pay offer has been tabled to union members at Granada TV in a bid to end a work to rule that could take Coronation Street off the air.

Strike action at the English National Opera House has been suspended while negotiations continue at ACAS.

BECTU will be instructing members in BBC Resources to stick firmly to Working Time Directive scheduling limits after talks with management floundered.

BECTU members at London English National Opera House are planning industrial action from Wednesday 30 June.

BBC World Service management have been accused of offering second class contracts to staff working in local language services.

Two of the four TV companies in Granada Media Group (GMG) have settled this year's pay claim.

Freelance film and TV members have accepted a new agreement on pay and conditions from industry body PACT.

A new row at Ulster TV, about plans to withdraw the company's profit related pay scheme, follows recent redundancy proposals.

Union members at the BBC have voted to accept this year's 2.6% pay offer by margin of almost 5 to 1.

The PACT/BECTU Freelance Production ballot of members on proposed improvements to the agreement closes on 10 June.

Working Time agreements have been reached at the BBC, Anglia and ITN; with the Regulations being applied at HTV, S4C, Ulster and Border TV.

A new pay offer has been tabled to union members at Granada TV in a bid to end a work to rule that could take Coronation Street off the air.

Strike action at the English National Opera House has been suspended while negotiations continue at ACAS.

BECTU will be instructing members in BBC Resources to stick firmly to Working Time Directive scheduling limits after talks with management floundered.

BECTU members at London English National Opera House are planning industrial action from Wednesday 30 June.

BBC World Service management have been accused of offering second class contracts to staff working in local language services.

Two of the four TV companies in Granada Media Group (GMG) have settled this year's pay claim.

Freelance film and TV members have accepted a new agreement on pay and conditions from industry body PACT.

A new row at Ulster TV, about plans to withdraw the company's profit related pay scheme, follows recent redundancy proposals.

Union members at the BBC have voted to accept this year's 2.6% pay offer by margin of almost 5 to 1.

The PACT/BECTU Freelance Production ballot of members on proposed improvements to the agreement closes on 10 June.

Working Time agreements have been reached at the BBC, Anglia and ITN; with the Regulations being applied at HTV, S4C, Ulster and Border TV.

BECTU has accused the owners of Ulster Television of casualisation after they announced 35 redundancies.

Negotiations on the Working Time Regulations in the Arts and Entertainment sector are at varied stages, with some areas reaching agreement.

BECTU has pledged to support members who refuse to co-operate with a broadcast by the British National Party.

BECTU members in the BBC have begun balloting on the Corporation's 1999 pay offer of a 2.6% rise.

Three of the four ITV companies owned by Granada Media Group have put forward improved pay offers in a bid to end a work to rule by union members.

BECTU is poised to run an industrial action ballot among members working for English National Opera, after the company's final offer on pay and conditions was rejected.

Freelance film and television members are to be balloted on a series of proposed improvements to the PACT/BECTU Freelance Production Agreement.

BBC unions are planning to ballot members on a pay offer of 2.6%, with a minimum increase of £500 for each member of staff.

Unions hope to announce this year's BBC pay offer on May 18, after draft proposals were considered by a meeting in London.

The High Court has agreed to refer BECTU's legal challenge to the UK Working Time Regulations directly to Europe.

The Directors Rights Campaign is going full speed ahead with a series of meetings around the UK in June.

This year's BBC pay offer is due to be presented next Monday, 17 May, to a meeting of union representatives from across the Corporation.

Unions at the BBC now expect that this year's pay offer will be tabled by management on 11 May.

Negotiators hope to put revised pay offers to members in three Granada companies by mid-May.

BBC management are now expected to table their 1999 pay offer to the unions at a meeting on Friday 7 May.

Agreement on the application of the Working Time Directive in three BBC Directorates has been finalised.

April 1999 marks an important success for the Free for All campaign as the UK's publicly funded museums begin to abolish entrance charges.

ITN members have voted by a 85% majority to accept a new agreement on the Working Time Regulations following negotiations with the company.

BECTU's History Project has been awarded a £3500 grant to help towards the enormous task of transcribing hundreds of audio tapes.

BECTU's National Official based in Birmingham UK is on maternity leave, and the union is looking for someone to cover for her on a fixed-term contract basis.

BECTU's submission to the panel reviewing the BBC licence fee supports its continuation as the main means of funding the Corporation.

British artists are denied the rights enjoyed elsewhere in Europe after heavy lobbying from the UK art market.

The union, in conjunction with Sony, is planning a series of events to help keep members in touch with developments in sound technology.

BBC union members have voted by a majority of 88% to accept proposals to compensate staff for working during the Millennium period.

BECTU is planning a series of health and safety courses, along with a quarterly bulletin, for it's members.

The BECTU Media Production Graduates' Show is to return in early April following it's success in 1997.

Union members at all four Granada Media Group ITV companies have taken strike action in protest at their pay offer.

Following negotiations the BBC has made an improved offer to compensate staff for working during the Millennium period.

The unions' BBC claim for 1999 includes a substantial salary increase and no compulsory redundancies for the next two years.

Union members at TV stations owned by Granada Media Group are planning a two-hour stoppage in protest at their pay offer.

A delayed ballot over Working Time proposals is finally going ahead at the BBC, but one major area is excluded.

BECTU Skillsbase is to be launched in the spring to provide training and careers guidance for freelances in the media industry.

The AFVPA commercials agreement has been amended to bring the breaks clause into line with the UK Working Time Regulations.

The Directors Rights Campaign was boosted by a London meeting attended by more than 200 film and television freelance directors.

Four ITV stations run by Granada Media Group (GMG) could be hit by industrial action this month after a ballot of union members.

The Working Time Directive could finally be introduced in the BBC by March if new scheduling proposals are accepted in a ballot over the next few weeks.

The High Court has given the go-ahead to a legal challenge to the UK Working Time Regulations by BECTU.

Pressure is building for action on the copyright claim from freelance directors working for ITV, with an open meeting planned for early February.

Union members across the four ITV stations owned by Granada Media Group (GMG) are to be balloted for industrial action following the break-down of pay negotiations.