BSkyB may let union into call centres

BECTU may win recognition in BSkyB after the company vowed to obey new recognition laws.

The pledge came after a week-long campaign in which BECTU encouraged BSkyB staff at call centres in Livingston and Dunfermline to join the union.

Over 3,000 leaflets were handed out to staff as they went into work, and a high profile meeting of potential members is due on Sunday June 25. Guests at the meeting include local MSP Bristow Muldoon, and Scottish TUC General Secretary Bill Spears.

BECTU's recruitment drive at the two sites began only days after new legislation came into force giving workers a legal right to union recognition.

Under the new law, unions must be automatically recognised by employers in workplaces where more than 50% of staff are members. BECTU is not recognised by BSkyB, neither at the Scottish call centres, nor at the broadcasting centre in Osterley, West London.

Although the company has previously been accused of an anti-union attitude, the management were prompted by BECTU's recruitment activies this month to make a public statement promising to observe the new law on recognition.

BECTU, with the support of the Scottish TUC which is anxious to establish a union presence in the nation's many call centres, hopes to recruit at least 40% of staff in Dunfermline and Livingston - a figure that would trigger a ballot of all employees who would vote on whether the union should represent them.

If a 50% membership figure, is achieved, the union will automatically have the right to negotiate with BSkyB over terms and conditions.

Organisers of the union campaign will be urging the company to grant BECTU voluntary recognition, in line with several other employers who have gracefully given in to the new legislation without a challenge.

Open meeting for all BSkyB Scottish staff

Sunday June 25
Dean's Community High School
Livingston

Speakers include:
Bristow Muldoon MSP
Bill Spears Gen Sec STUC
Tracey White STUC

The campaign leaflet:

On 6 June the Government introduced laws giving workers the legal right to union recognition in their workplace. There is nothing the employer can do to stop this. If you want a union in your workplace it is up to you to join BECTU and the law then allows us to represent you.

This law also gives workers the legal right to be accompanied by a trade union official in disciplinary or grievance hearings.

An independent body, the CAC, has been set up to oversee recognition claims. There are three ways to achieve recognition.

1. Automatic Recognition -
   this will be awarded where BECTU can show we have over 50% membership.
2. Recognition Ballot -
   where BECTU can show at least 10% of workers are members and a significant number want union recognition the CAC will conduct a ballot. If the ballot is successful and complies with the various rules recognition will be awarded.
3. Voluntary Recognition -
   Some companies have, however, already indicated that rather than go through all this they will enter into voluntary agreements where a lot of workers have joined a union. In fact, unions must first ask the employer for this as the first step in the legal process.

As the only union for workers employed by broadcasting companies BECTU is keen to secure recognition at BSkyB in their engineering departments and call centres but we need your help.If we can get a large number of Sky workers to join BECTU we will seek voluntary recognition.

This will allow us to represent you on pay, conditions, leave, overtime, pensions, disciplinary grievances and many more issues.You must be aware that if not enough people join at first and we then lose a ballot NO union can, by law, approach Sky for 3 more years.

All the current BECTU members at Sky and other workers we have spoken to strongly believe that all BSkyB workers need a trade union to protect and represent them.

TRADE UNIONS MATTER
It is a fact that unionised workplaces enjoy much better pay, conditions and treatment than non-union workplaces. BECTU has a range of agreements for staff working for other broadcasting companies - BBC, Carlton, Scottish Media Group, Granada Media Group and United News & Media, these agreements cover a broad range of staff including engineering and call centre operations.

TRADE UNIONS MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Now you have this opportunity to have BECTU organise, negotiate and act on your behalf, don't waste it -Join BECTU today

For further information or details call BECTU on 0207 437 8506 or 0141 248 9558.

Please note that members' names and details will not be disclosed to Sky management.