Cooperation planned with US union

Plans are being laid for closer working between BECTU and its American counterpart.

BECTU has responded to an invitation from the President of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) to establish joint committees of the two unions.

Tom Short, IATSE's International President, made the suggestion from the rostrum of BECTU's Annual Conference in May, which he attended as guest of honour.

Read press release from BECTU Conference.

A meeting of BECTU's new National Executive on May 19 enthusiastically endorsed the proposal, and IATSE has now formally been invited to engage in talks about a framework which could link UK and US workers in the Film, Broadcasting, and Theatre industries.

The two unions cover almost identical areas of the entertainment sector, and have already built a close working relationship as members of Union Network International (UNI), the international union organisation which has a section dedicated to the media and entertainment industries.

Short's address to the BECTU conference concentrated on the need for cross-border unity between unions in an industry which was increasingly dominated by multi-national companies. His first ever visit to the UK union's conference was rewarded with a standing ovation from delegates.

Among the many issues which the two unions hope to deal with jointly are the reciprocal arrangements for members working in each other's countries, exchange of bargaining information about major employers, and more harmonised standards for training and health and safety.

Press release from BECTU

US FILM UNION CALLS FOR JOINT ACTION WITH BECTU

Tom Short, the International President of IATSE, has proposed the establishment of a joint committee of the powerful US/Canadian film, broadcasting and theatre union and BECTU, its British counterpart.

Addressing the BECTU Annual Conference at the Manchester Conference Centre, the leader of the 120,000-strong union described the growth of global multinational media corporations as a threat to employment, pay and production in the western audiovisual industry.

"I say to you, I'm certain for all our benefits as working people that if it's good for multinational corporations to consolidate, then it would be in the best interests prospectively for us to consider attempting to set up a committee. Because I am prepared to explore the feasibility of working more closely together so we can level the playing field of the multinational corporations," said Tom Short.

He went on: "They attempt to play off one sector against another; it's time we worked together."

BECTU General Secretary Roger Bolton commented afterwards: "We welcome this proposal from our friends in North America and we will be working in the next few days to take forward this important initiative."

The long term implication of this groundbreaking initiative could be to create international standards on pay and conditions.

ENDS

Issued by BECTU Press Office, Manchester Conference Centre. 19.5.02

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10 June 2002