Working Time Regs roundup
Working Time Regulations negotiations between BECTU and employers reveal a varied picture across the UK media industry.
The negotiations, resulting from the introduction of the UK Working Time Regulations on 1 October, are outlined below.
Leisure
As the majority of BECTU members are part-time in this sector of the industry, very little of the legislation is relevant. The main gain is the three weeks' paid leave, increasing to four weeks in November 1999.
Cinemas
Negotiations are continuing with Odeon, ABC and the Virgin chains. The big advantage for projectionists is the opportunity to take their meal breaks away from their workstation. In order to achieve this Odeon have taken on a number of part-time staff. Generally the employers will be able to meet all the requirements of the Directive.
Theatres
Theatre employers are claiming they can manage the 48 hour week subject to a long enough reference period. However many union members want to work in excess of 48 hours to protect their current earning levels. Negotiations are continuing with all the major employers, including the two big associations, SOLT and TMA. The daily rest of 11 hours is one of the items employers are looking for derogations on. They claim that on get-outs and fit-ups it will not be possible to give the 11 hour overnight break.
BBC
ITV
Initial letters sent out to some employees of Granada Media Group have been withdrawn. BECTU are expecting all the companies to be seeking derogations, especially for drama productions and news. At this stage BECTU are not willing to enter into negotiations with the companies until there is agreement on the interpretation of the Directive. All BECTU members in Independent Broadcasting have been written to at home giving advice on their rights.
Transmission Companies
The big transmission companies, NTL, CTI and Merlin, expect to be able to comply with all the legislation but will require derogations for engineers and riggers, who may be called out during their daily rest. Transitional arrangements are in place while talks continue.