Freelance commercials ballot

Freelance members are to be balloted on the future of the Commercials Agreement.

BECTU's Negotiating Committee has decided to put the issue to members, and will run a ballot on the APA's (Advertising Producers Association) proposals for a new agreement during July.

BECTU has not reached agreement with the APA on the future of the Commercials Agreement after three months of talks, and with the Agreement's termination date looming, the two sides are still far apart.

The APA has agreed to extend the current Agreement for a month, until the end of July, to allow time for the ballot.

In March this year the APA tabled a draft for an entirely rewritten Agreement, with drastic reductions in the terms and conditions of freelances working on commercials. They argue that this is necessary to stop "runaway productions" going to Cape Town, Prague and other overseas locations.

BECTU recognises that runaway production is a real problem, and has always been ready to discuss responses, but it does not accept that its members' pay and conditions are the primary cause.

Only those freelance members who identify themselves as working on commercials will get a vote in the ballot. Such members should therefore contact Jan Foley [email protected] with "Working on commercials" in the subject line and giving name and membership number in the body of the email.