Electrician's ballot suspended

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

PACT has agreed to talks on the issue of working hours on feature films with the Lighting Technicians Branch.

The union is reported to be pleased that PACT has finally recognised the strength of feeling amongst freelance electricians, and that only reason the employers are now taking the electricians seriously is because the Branch ran a consultative ballot for industrial action.

The union said the response was 100% behind some form of industrial action which has demonstrated to the industry that the electricians are prepared to make a stand.

BECTU Official Spencer MacDonald commented: "Congratulations to the Branch for getting their voice heard, this is a fantastic victory.

"Your representatives will now be involved in meaningful negotiations about fixing the anomalies that have been just ignored for years".