Bectu in 2022, plus looking ahead to next year
In her final blog for 2022, Head of Bectu Philippa Childs reflects on a busy but productive year for Bectu members, representatives and officials.
In 2022 the creative industries continued the long, and at times stuttering, recovery from the challenges of the pandemic and its aftermath.
This time last year theatres and live events were entering a very difficult Christmas and New Year with lots of show cancellations and illness that really impacted upon the crew. Whilst we all feared the worst some of the lessons that had been learned through the previous couple of years did mean that a total shutdown was avoided.
Nevertheless, members working in theatres, live events and film and TV continued to feel the impact of the pandemic throughout 2022. Many members, both employees and freelancers, suffered huge financial losses as a result of the limitations of the Government’s financial support schemes and these will have a long-term impact.
As for so many people across the economy, the various lockdowns provided an opportunity for people to reflect on their life and career choices and the expectations placed on them by employers and engagers that affect work/life balance. Undoubtedly a desire for more balance and dignity at work has informed much of our industrial campaigning throughout 2022. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens and people struggle to pay their bills we now need, more than ever, to focus on low pay and working conditions to ensure that our members don’t pay the price for politicians’ economic mismanagement.
Political changes
2022 started with Nadine Dorries as Secretary of State for the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DMCS) but ends with Michelle Donelan holding the reins. The high turnover in this role has undoubtedly created challenges in terms of setting long-term strategy for the creative industries.
Nadine Dorries’ proposal to sell off Channel 4 was all but universally condemned by the industry, and 96% of those who responded to the Government’s consultation about the proposed sale were opposed to the plan. We submitted evidence to the consultation and campaigned throughout the year against the proposal to disrupt the broadcaster’s successful model.
At the point of writing we are still unsure whether the Government will proceed to sell off the broadcaster.
Marking 100 years of the BBC
The BBC celebrated its centenary in October and Bectu organised a parliamentary reception to recognise the milestone and the role our members have played in its success. Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS, Lucy Powell, sponsored the event and spoke warmly about the BBC and the role it has played in the wider creative industries. BBC Director General Tim Davie and I also spoke to the assembled audience of MPs, Peers and industry stakeholders. More here.
This event formed part of our campaign to highlight the importance of the BBC to the creative industries in the UK and to promote the importance of stable future funding. It goes without saying that we continue to have robust conversations with the BBC about restructuring and our members’ terms and conditions of employment.
New TV Drama Agreement
The Bectu team supporting members who work in TV and drama production have spent much of the year trying to bring the Pact/Bectu TV Drama Agreement to a successful conclusion.
Bectu reps have devoted a great deal of their own time to this process, working with officials, through difficult and protracted talks. Members recently voted by a majority to accept the new terms, which will apply to all new and existing productions from 1 January 2023. More here.
Pay negotiations and working conditions in theatres
Inevitably, with inflation rising we’ve had some difficult pay negotiations in 2022. Members working under the Society of London Theatres Agreement rejected a pay offer which included some unacceptable strings and following the involvement of ACAS who helped to broker a way forward we were able to settle that dispute.
Members working in theatres across the UK expressed their concerns about low pay, long working hours, skills shortages and bullying and harassment in a survey conducted by the union in the autumn. We’ll be working with employers where we can into 2023 to try to address these endemic problems, made worse in the aftermath of the pandemic, via our Fit4Purpose campaign.
NPO funding announcement
At the end of November Arts Council England (ACE) caused reverberations across the opera world with the announcement that the ENO would no longer be included in its National Portfolio Organisations funding from April 2023. This has come as a huge blow to Bectu, Equity and Musicians’ Union members employed by the ENO as well as its supporters more generally.
Whilst we recognise that ACE had been instructed by Nadine Dorries whilst she was in the DCMS to reduce funding to London organisations and fund more outside of London, the brutal removal of the ENO from the NPO threatens its very future. Other theatres also face severe cuts or the loss of funding altogether.
All in all, 2022 has been another very busy year for Bectu representatives, members and officials and I have no doubt that it will continue that way into 2023. There has never been a better time to be part of a trade union and I’m pleased to say that Bectu has seen unprecedented growth during the year. We never take your membership for granted and once again I would like to say a big thank you for all your support throughout 2022.
I wish you and your families a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year.