Bectu’s Sector Conference
This week was Bectu Conference, which served as an opportunity to thank all of our reps and members for their tireless work throughout the pandemic.
It has been a challenging time for the union and the creative industries, yet our reps and members in all branches have stepped up to the plate and ensured that creative workers have received mental and financial support.
Motions passed included the right to protest, an essential functioning of a healthy democracy. The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill passed its second reading in Parliament on 9th March 2021. It elevates police power to decide when, where and how citizens are allowed to protest. In October 2020, Bectu members found themselves facing bans on what were described as ‘controversial’ gatherings, and in March 2021, peaceful vigils in response to the murder of Sarah Everard were unfairly disbanded by the police. Read our joint statement with Prospect expressing our concerns about the bill here Protecting our civil rights | Bectu.
Following reports that BBC journalists were told that new rules on impartiality prevented them from attending LGBT+ pride marches and Black Lives Matter protests, conference instructed the SEC to re-iterate Bectu support for LGBT+ workers and black workers, and use existing protections under the law and Bectu legal resources to protect Bectu members’ right to freely attend gatherings and protests. All workers everywhere, including the BBC should be able to protest, and the draconian measures put in place by the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts bill seriously threaten our democracy.
Conference also instructed the SEC to renew campaigning to promote the unique role that the BBC plays as an impartial broadcaster, in advance of the BBC’s 2022 mid charter review. It also unanimously passed the motion to campaign alongside other trade unions for the re-introduction of the Union Learning Fund. In the meantime, Prospect have made a brilliant investment in funding an alternative for all members.
Head of UNI MEI Global Union Johannes Studinger spoke about the success of international solidarity of union membership in securing enforced safety rules regarding the return to work, stating “the pioneering work of Bectu has had a great impact on unions around the world to implement safety protocols.” Unions supporting each other during these challenging times has been imperative to ensuring the successful reopening of our sector.
I would like to congratulate all those successful in elections, including John Handley, our new Sector President.
The past year has presented many challenges to Bectu’s members, representatives and staff, yet huge resilience was shown as we adapted to the changes that the pandemic brought about. Our sector suffered more hardship than any other, yet creative workers all across the industry have refused to give up. I look forward to the successful reopening of the sector and creating a brighter future for our reps and members.