Unscripted TV

Organising and campaigning for workers in unscripted TV
Join 40,000 workers in the creative industries Join Bectu today

First 3 months free for Unscripted members who join before July. Please include “-Unscripted” after your job role so our membership team can apply the discount on their end.

Do you work in unscripted TV?

If the answer is yes, we want you! We recognise there is a need to organise and campaign on behalf of those who work in unscripted TV. Check out the Unscripted Branch website here.

Bectu represents freelancers working across many different parts of the screen industries. We have members working in high-end scripted TV and film, advertising, post-production and VFX and now we want to grow our membership in unscripted TV as well.

When we talk about unscripted television we mean people working in genres such as: factual entertainment, entertainment, documentary, non-scripted comedy, news and current affairs, sports, children, reality, music and live and natural history.

If you’re a freelancer working in any of these areas at any level – from runner to executive producer – we are the union for you.

COVID-19 has highlighted the precarious situation that so many people working in unscripted experience face. We know that you work long hours to the detriment of your mental health, family life and overall quality of life. The pandemic is only going to present further issues that need to be addressed as the industry gets back to work.

Unscripted TV Zoom sessions

UTVU Zoom session on how to raise a grievance

UTVU Zoom session on tax and pensions

Five reasons to join Bectu

1.     A seat at the policy table

Highly experienced industry experts with strong lobbying experience and proven ability to achieve change. We have existing relationships with government including departments such as the Treasury, the Department for Digital, Media, Culture and Sports as well as a track record of applying pressure on government to change policy by working with industry partners and the shadow cabinet and backbenchers.

Industry partners Bectu collaborates with include: The Creative Industries Federation, the BFI, the British Film Commission, ScreenSkills, Directors UK, The Film and TV Charity and many more.

2.     Proven negotiating experience – with employers and associations such as Pact

Significant changes that have been achieved by Bectu working with our members include:

  • Securing an extension to the window in which people could be furloughed using the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme
  • Negotiating a deal with Pact for crew working on Major Motion Pictures and standardising contract elements such as the duration of the working day and when overtime payments must be made

3.     Discounts on Public Liability Insurance, kit, festivals and events

4.     Free exclusive access to Bectu events such as webinars, training and the Freelancers’ Fair

5.     Legal and tax advice