Broadcasting Working Time roundup

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

BBC

Agreement has been reached in all of the Corporation's Directorates, apart from Resources and Worldwide.

In Resources talks are continuing, with the union seeking compensatory rest for infringements of rest periods and meal break provisions. The union also wants individuals to be able to nominate when they take their compensatory rest. Management wish to limit paid compensatory rest to those on Hours Conditions and nominate when compensatory rest will be granted.

In Worldwide negotiations are continuing.

Border Television

As production in the company is concentrated on local news, the company does not foresee any difficulties in compliance with the Regulations.

Carlton

At Central Television Birmingham and Nottingham formal talks with the company have been agreed on the interpretation of terms within the Regulations. However these discussions have foundered on the issue of compensatory rest. The company's early interest in a 52 week averaging period has not been persued, and therefore the union has advised members to refuse schedules which fail to meet the provisions for daily and weekly rest.

In the absence of a full recognition agreement no discussions have taken place covering members at Carlton London or West Country Television.

Channel 4

BECTU has asked the company what changes it could foresee as a result of the regulations, and it replied it was consulting its lawyers.

Granada Media Group

When the Regulations introduced each company in the Group - Granada TV, London Weekend Television (LWT), Tyne Tees and Yorkshire TV - issued one of a variety of letters to staff depending to the extent to which they were expected to affected.

The Group-wide management view is that the broadcaster derogation provides some kind of blanket immunity from the company's duties to apply the Regulations. The company believes it claim claim continuity of service covering its entire operation thereby denying staff the right to rest periods. The company has not requested derogations from the Regulations.

It has approached certain staff to sign 48-hour opt documents, and has also attempted to include the waiver in contract renewals at Granada and LWT.

Members have been advised to insist on schedules which comply with the legislation in respect of daily and weekly rest periods.

ITN

Agreement has been reached on a system which provides compensatory rest on a like for like basis within 8 weeks. For example, if someone works an extra two hours in a eight week period they would be scheduled two hours less work in the following period.

Scottish Media Group

No formal agreements have resulted from the introduction of the Regulations. Members are insisting on the provision of rosters which comply with the Regulations.

S4C

The union became involved when the company invited certain staff to sign a 48-hour opt out from the Regulations. Subsequently S4C agreed to offer staff a choice of notice periods to withdraw from the opt out ranging from 7 days to 3 months.

Ulster Television

The Regulations were applied in November of last year and no derogations have been sought.

United News and Media

At Anglia negotiations lead to agreement that in the event of 11 hour breaks being infringed then compensatory rest can be accrued and taken off in whole days within a 13 week period.

HTV has stated its intention to work within the terms of the Working Time Regulations.