Stage, Screen & Radio - October/November 2014 - 13

Go to www.bectu.org.uk/get-involved/join-bectu

you
it's expensive. BECTU employs Thompsons, the
largest employment law firm in the UK. Every
year on average we win over £1million for
members. The law changed recently and to take
a case to a tribunal you will have to pay between
£390 and £1,200 depending on your claim and
this does not include the cost of a solicitor and
barrister. Once our solicitor believes you have a
case and you are a member of the union before
the incident occurred, we will pay all your legal
fees and you receive the full award. You insure
your home, you insure your car, why not insure
your employment?
BECTU employs over 50 people who are
committed to supporting you. Make us stronger
by joining BECTU or recruiting a member today.
Help us to help you. We are proud to be the
union for workers in the media and
entertainment industry.

Gerry Morrissey
General Secretary

"Join BECTU for
a stronger voice
in the workplace"
Luis Abreu works as a porter at the BBC in New Broadcasting House in
London W1. He was previously at W12 and has been working within the BBC
for six years. He currently works for Interserve, a contractor which took over last April.
He joined BECTU in August: many of his work colleagues are BECTU members and
with the proposed redundancies within Interserve he understood how important it
was to stick together and make a stronger voice for himself and his fellow members
within the logistics, facilities management and cleaning teams.
Luis is very popular amongst his fellow BECTU members and they encouraged him
to become their workplace rep. Luis put himself forward and is currently
undergoing the relevant training. He has been very active in communicating
with fellow members on issues relating to the proposed redundancies. He
has also helped members with information on sickness and pay.
"I would say to non-members that BECTU will help and support
members with their rights at work: many colleagues are unaware of
this and take management's word as gospel for fear of getting
into trouble. For some English is not their first language,
so they may feel confused and intimidated by
'management speak'. Joining BECTU gives
the staff a louder voice."

In the commercials sector, BECTU lighting technicians have
successfully negotiated improved terms with the Advertising
Producers Association which came into effect in September.
Channel 4 then increased its promo rates in line with the APA.
And at the BBC, strength in numbers along with the unions
working together enabled BECTU to pressure the corporation
to agree a moratorium on compulsory redundancies at BBC
News and the World Service. This unprecedented U-turn from
management means that any cuts in staffing will be secured
voluntarily until at least 31 March 2015.
For freelances at the BBC, the minimum rates for those
October/November 2014 Stage Screen & Radio

working on continuing drama and series & serials increased
from 1 October for those grades with sufficient membership
for the union to negotiate collectively on their behalf. The
branches were consulted and accepted a 2% increase this
year and 2% in October 2015. This was only achievable
because freelances working in these areas joined the union,
creating enough strength in numbers for the union to deliver.
It is clear to all that to oppose unwelcome changes to your
working conditions, and to achieve improvements, the more
of your colleagues are with you in the union the more
successful you will be.
13

http://www.bectu.org.uk/get-involved/join-bectu

Stage, Screen & Radio - October/November 2014

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