2007 Conference proposals issued

Proposals for BECTU's 2007 Annual Conference in Bournemouth have been issued.

BECTU Branches and the NEC (National Executive Committee) have submitted propositions for this year's Annual Conference to be held in April.

The difficult relationship with the Labour government in a year when Tony Blair will step aside as leader features prominently among the propositions received from Branches.

This time it is the Film Artistes who are calling for disaffiliation from the Labour Party (on financial grounds), something that successive conferences have rejected. On the other hand, BBC Bush urge the NEC to encourage Labour leadership candidates to come forward "who are sympathetic to the aims of the trade union movement".

Not surprisingly perhaps, environmental concerns are also to the fore. The Standing Orders Committee have composited motions from the South West Freelance and BBC Bush branches instructing the NEC to carry out a 'green audit' of the union's consumption of materials and energy.

The NEC itself has put forward a thoughtfully-worded motion welcoming the creation of the new International Trade Union Confederation from the previously separate ICFTU and WCL. The NEC points up key elements of the ITUC constitution as a step towards a Universal Declaration of Workers' Rights.

Closer to home there are several propositions relating to industry concerns, not least, of course, the crisis facing the BBC after its below-inflation licence fee settlement.

A composite motion from BBC Bush and ESPG branches calls for opposition to "any measures the BBC tries to put in place to fund the licence fee deficit from staff remuneration and conditions". Other motions condemn the sell-off of BBC Resources and the off-shoring of finance and accounting operations.

In the film industry there are calls for production bonds to protect crew wages in the event of the production failing, and for payment on time for agency and temporary workers.

Thankfully, Shilpa Shetty's name does not appear among any of the propositions, but that of Simone Clarke does. The Salisbury Playhouse branch is calling for membership of the BNP or any other fascist or racist organisation to be sufficient reason for expulsion from trade unions.

BECTU's 2007 Annual Conference takes place on Saturday 28 April 2007 at the De Vere Royal Bath Hotel in Bournemouth. Branches should have informed head office of their delegates by 13 March.

On 29 April 2006 separate Conferences for the following Divisions of the union will also be taking place in Bournemouth:

  • BBC
  • Independent Broadcasting
  • Arts and Entertainment

The Laboratories, Regional Production and London Production Divisions are expected to hold their Conferences later in the year at different venues.

9 February 2007