Bectu and French partner unions expose long working hours & Broken Turnaround at Cannes Film Festival

Bectu has joined forces with France’s sister trade unions representing creative workers to highlight the issue of excessive working hours in the film industry.

In a joint statement timed to coincide with the Cannes Film Festival, the unions argue that production companies have “normalised long working days” and that this culture of long hours has “serious consequences for workers’ health, safety, and overall wellbeing”.

The statement is part of Bectu’s Broken Turnaround campaign, which aims to eliminate the practice of film and TV workers being routinely asked to ‘break turnaround’ by ignoring the minimum rest period they are entitled to between shifts.

While workers are legally entitled to refuse to break turnaround, the reality is that the practice is widespread, many workers feel pressured to do so, and that unrealistic timelines for productions put intense pressure on workers.

You can lend your support to the campaign by signing Bectu’s growing petition calling for an end to long hours culture in UK film and TV here.

Bectu National Secretary Spencer MacDonald said:

“Cannes is a time to celebrate achievements in the film industry, but the reality is that these achievements are built on the hard work of thousands of workers who are often pushed to their limits by the gruelling schedules of productions.

“If we want a sustainable film industry, with good careers for workers at all levels and in all crafts, then we need to put an end to this dangerous practice.

“While Bectu is working to eliminate this practice in the UK, this issue is widespread and global, and I’m delighted that French and UK unions are standing in solidarity with each other to shine a spotlight on it.”