News headlines 2006

Legendary film-maker, and life-long union member, John Gray has died in Edinburgh after a short illness.

An industrial action ballot among BECTU and NUJ members at news provider ITN has been extended by two weeks.

BECTU has accused the BBC of misleading Parliament over details of its plan to move finance jobs to India.

An election for the BECTU General Secretary is to be held following Roger Bolton's sad death.

BECTU has won recognition for collective bargaining at SeeTickets, the ticket agency owned by the Really Useful Theatre Company.

Union members at news provider ITN are balloting for strike action to protect their pension rights.

BECTU has called off strikes in BBC news this week after an offer of peace talks from management.

BECTU, NUJ, and Amicus have promised to call a strike ballot if ITV closes its final salary pension scheme.

An overtime ban is due to begin on November 24 at the leading film lab and post-production house.

Roger Bolton, General Secretary of BECTU since 1993, has died after a long illness.

BECTU is inviting its women members to attend two events in the coming weeks.

Nearly 100 BECTU members working for BBC News have taken strike action over new working patterns.

BECTU's campaign seeking freelance union recognition at the BBC has been relaunched.

Dates have been released for industrial action by BECTU members working for BBC Television News.

Managers of the Royal Opera House have begun talks with BECTU over a potential pensions crisis.

BECTU members in BBC TV News in London have voted by more than 90% for strikes over new rotas.

BECTU is joining forces with the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) to defend pension rights for members in Siemens.

BECTU is seeking an urgent meeting with Xansa, the company that has won the BBC payroll services contract.

Union negotiators have expressed dismay at ITN proposals that will have a severe impact on members' pensions.

The BBC has started an asbestos register for all those potentially exposed to fibres at Television Centre.

BECTU's next Annual Conference will be held in Bournemouth during April 2007.

BECTU has welcomed news that Ofcom has rejected ITV's request to cut their Children's programmes.

BBC News has announced 108 job cuts with BECTU members making up around 50% of the total.

Skillset are carrying out a study exploring problems combining work and life outside the film and TV industry.

Plans to transfer over 100 ITV transmission staff to a new employer have been condemned by union officials.

BECTU is supporting the Stop the War demonstration at the Labour Party Conference in Manchester on Saturday 23 September.

An industrial action ballot of freelance electricians has been suspended as PACT agrees to open negotiations.

BECTU members in Cineworld multiplexes are balloting on this year's pay offer.

Negotiators are making plans for a "significant" pay claim after this year's 2.8% offer met a mixed reception from union members.

Only days are left for black and minority ethnic radio workers to register for October's Move On Up event.

BECTU has issued an open letter to members who worked on the ill-fated Flying Scotsman film.

Members have voted 4:1 to accept the first proposed agreement with BBC Scotland covering freelancers and casuals.

BECTU's BBC members have voted to accept a 2.8% pay increase and watered-down changes to pension benefits.

BECTU has been recognised as the union to represent those working at the Cardiff Millenium Centre.

BECTU has welcomed the announcement that Charles Allen is to stand down as chief executive of ITV.

BECTU has criticised the Edinburgh International Film Festival over screening the Flying Scotsman which failed to pay its crew.

Unions are running a consultative ballot on a revised pay and pensions offer from the BBC.

BECTU is planning a major event for black and minority ethnic workers in radio, alongside industry partners.

A consultative ballot on industrial action is being held amongst BECTU freelance electricians.

Members are voting on the first proposed agreement with BBC Scotland covering freelancers and casuals.

A new law which comes into effect this week gives some fixed-term contract staff the right to a permanent job.

Unions are to run strike ballots over pay, pensions, and job cuts, among members at the BBC and its subsidiaries.

Playout company Red Bee Media, previously BBC Broadcast, has improved its 2006 pay offer.

BECTU has accused the BBC of burying good news about its pension scheme by dropping key data from its Annual Report.

BECTU has made a two year pay claim covering members in London's West End theatres.

Dozens of ex-BBC staff now employed by Capita in West London have joined a one-day strike.

Mersey Television management has told 13% of its workforce they are "at risk of redundancy".

Thousands of BECTU freelance members are being asked to sign a petition seeking union recognition at the BBC.

Members outsourced to Capita are to strike because of the company's refusal to allow them to continue working on the BBC contract.

BECTU is urging members to join in a consultation over proposed changes to BBC pensions.

BECTU members at Scottish Opera are to take industrial strike action tonight (13 June 2006).

BECTU members are being offered a 50% discount in registering for the D-Cinema Workshop at the NFT.

BECTU and the union's law firm Thompsons have set up a register for members who believe they have been exposed to asbestos.

A series of meetings are being held for all freelancers who work for the BBC to discuss future rates.

An ITV decision to make further cuts in its regional news programming has been condemned by BECTU.

BECTU has suspended a campaign of industrial action, which was due to start tonight at Scottish Opera.

Alan Sapper, former General Secretary of the ACTT - one of BECTU's founding unions - died on Friday 19th May, aged 75.

The result of BECTU's NEC elections have been announced at this year's union Annual Conference.

TV and film workers are being invited to attend BECTU's Freelance Fair in June.

BECTU has condemned musician Pete Doherty for squirting the contents of a syringe at a camera during an interview.

Unions have agreed to meet BBC management to discuss controversial changes to the staff pension scheme.

As more details emerge of NTL's proposals to cut 6,000 posts, BECTU has sought assurances on the future of members' jobs.

BECTU has criticised NTL for the leaking of its apparent decision to axe 5,000 jobs following on from its merger with Telewest.

Regional theatre members have voted by a 3 to 1 majority to accept a 3.3% pay increase.

Unions plan to ballot members for strike action if the BBC presses ahead with controversial changes to its pension scheme.

BECTU members at The London Studios have voted to accept new terms and conditions.

Unions have condemned plans to increase the cost of pensions, and raise retirement age for BBC staff to 65.

BECTU members at Scottish Opera meet this week to decide their response to management's union-busting tactics.

BECTU is taking part in this year's TUC May Day march which has the theme of a Trade Union Freedom Bill.

BECTU's Writers, Producers and Directors Branch have organised a Freelances Fair to be held this summer.

Freelance BECTU members are reminded to renew their public liability insurance by 1 May 2006.

BECTU members working in regional theatres are being balloted on a 3.3% pay offer.

BECTU officials have warned that the union will ballot for industrial action if the BBC makes radical changes to its pension scheme.

London Studios members are being balloted on revised terms and conditions proposals.

All sides involved in UK theatre and orchestras have issued a joint statement on future public funding.

BECTU members in BBC Human Resources have voted by 85% to be balloted for industrial action.

BECTU is asking independent production company staff about their work experiences.

BBC plans to issue compulsory redundancy notices as part of BBC cutbacks has been condemned by unions.

The petition on the proposed privatisation of BBC Engineering Training has been presented to DG Mark Thompson.

Freelance training provider FT2 celebrates its 21st birthday this month.

ITV management have decided to contract out its security operation to Reliance.

A petition is being run on the proposed privatisation of BBC Engineering Training.

Postal ballots are under way to elect the union's President and NEC members for 2006-2008.

Members in Siemens, formerly BBC Technology, are being balloted on a 3% pay offer for 2006-2007.

The Alfie Squires Educational Bursary makes available £5000 for bursaries towards union-related education for BECTU members.

Members in BBC Radio have accepted revised proposals on changes to job descriptions by a slim majority.

Members in BBC Resources are being balloted on a 2.5% pay offer for 2006-2007.

Angels is offering 18 month training programmes for prospective freelance Wardrobe Assistants in film.

Members in BBC Radio are being asked whether they will accept revised proposals on changes to job descriptions.

BECTU is supporting a half day seminar on regulating the UK's long-hours working culture.

The DCMS is carrying out consultation on how Lottery funds should be spent in arts and film after 2009.

BECTU members at ENO have voted by a majority of two to one in favour of accepting the management's offer of a 3 year deal on pay.

Unions have named two dates for industrial action in BBC Radio as members resist changes to job descriptions.

Proposals for BECTU's 2006 Annual Conference in Eastbourne have been issued.

BECTU has a vacancy for a General Services Clerk at the union head office in Clapham.

Members at Welsh language Broadcaster S4C have accepted a pay deal negotiated by local BECTU stewards.

Talks at ACAS have lead to improved terms for staff facing redundancy resulting from the closure of the ITV News Channel.

BECTU is launching a new Freelance Learning and Skills Network in February.

More than 1,000 ITV staff have signed a petition against privatisation of the company's security operation.

Unions have won another round of discussions over a threat of more than 200 compulsory redundancies.

BECTU's General Secretary has issued a public tribute to his ex-colleague, the politician Tony Banks, who died this week.

BECTU members working for ITV plc have today voted to accept an improved pay offer from the company.

BECTU Branches are invited to nominate members for the union's National Executive and President.

Production staff and crew on the ITV soap have voted for BECTU to bargain on their terms, conditions, and pay.

BECTU members at English National Opera have voted for strike action over a pay offer.