Bectu working groups form on how to formulate a new deal

Six working groups have formed to discuss what is needed in a new deal for freelancers working in film and TV.

Bectu members who act as representatives for specific groups of members working in film and TV will convene over the next week to discuss: employment rights and tax, income protection and job security, better management, welfare, negotiating terms and conditions, equality and diversity.

These areas have been identified following analysis of a ThoughtExchange that people working in film and TV were encouraged to take part in.

People who took part were asked: What changes would you like to urge everyone working in the UK film & TV-related production industries to demand as part of ‘a new deal for freelancers and precarious workers’?

The platform allows people to rate thoughts that other users have generated as well as share their own views. Close to 2,500 people took part with thousands of ideas that were shared and ‘rated’ by participants to give the union a really clear idea of what participants issues and priorities were.

Some of the top thoughts generated included:

• An end to unpaid overtime with strict contractual rules on the length of working days that are paid and standard rates and agreed overtime terms.
• Agreed union rates with no ‘buy out’ deals forcing you to work extra hours for no pay ending the gradual shift over recent years towards longer working days with 15 hour days – being the norm in the worst-affected departments.
• Respected industry ratecards where freelancers working as researchers and runners can’t be pressurised to work on or below the legal minimum wage-rates.

The most common theme overall was better working hours and work life balance which generated 785 ‘thoughts’ in total.

The aim of the discussions is to flesh out an approach to these issues and then to hold further sessions with larger groups of members and other parts of the industry.

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “We are just starting the discussions about what a new deal for freelancers looks like. Our ambition is for members to have their say and then go back to work with the wider industry on ensuring that freelancers are not as vulnerable in the future.

“There is a huge amount to do and these are not straightforward conversations but I know that many people will want to talk about this topic and will expect the industry to listen and engage.”