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Recent Posts
Recent Comments
- Inflation update and the fall in real wages | Bectu Freelance Research on Earnings growth – private sector workers outpace the public sector
- Paul Evans on Applying for a Lorimer Letter (LP10)
- George on Applying for a Lorimer Letter (LP10)
- Paul Evans on Travelling to work in the EU (updated)
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Monthly Archives: April 2022
Broadcasting White Paper published
The DCMS has published its Broadcasting White Paper promising “a new golden age of programming” with changes to regulations on SVoDs, sports rights, and the privatisation of Channel 4. One change is that C4 will be able to start producing … Continue reading
Labour market enforcement – update
Reading my copy of PIRC’s quarterly Work newsletter, I see that there’s no mention of the budget / timetable for the proposed Single Enforcement Body (SEB) that we are hoping to see from the UK government. There is an ongoing … Continue reading
Bectu ‘Live to Work’ campaign launched
Bectu has launched the Live to Work campaign aimed at improving terms and conditions in the UK TV drama industry. You can visit the campaign page here and join the network (open to members and non-members), download images to use … Continue reading
Update: CoViD health and safety guidance – links
Here are some use useful links that include the latest guidance. UK Government Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace – Guidance covering a range of settings, including what can be done to keep others safe. … Continue reading
Halyna Hutchins – Rust producers – “demonstrated plain indifference to employee safety”
There’s a lot more investigating to take place, not least into the question of how a live round ended up in a prop gun. But here’s CCN’s account of the report released by New Mexico Environment Department’s Occupational Health & … Continue reading
Demand for UK studio space v Netflix subscriber drop
Two stories passing each other in this week’s newspapers. Firstly, a good fact-packed briefing from The Times [£] on how demand for studio space is multiplying at the moment, to meet the demands of SVoD productions: “UK production spend is … Continue reading
Posted in Film & TV industry data, SVoD, Tax incentives
Tagged Netflix, SVOD, UK Studio Watch
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Useful bookmarks on freelance employment and tax policies
Here’s something written by Alan Lockey for Demos – “Free Radicals – Britain’s self-employed millions urgently need a new deal…” [pdf], and an IPSE’s 2017 ‘tax manifesto’ paper on “A Fairer, More Efficient Tax System” [pdf] (h/t Martin McIvor)
ADs guide for working with Background Artists / Supporting Artists / Doubles / Stand-Ins.
My colleague Emily Collin has been working with the POP agency platform to support Assistant Directors and productions understand the new FAA-Pact Agreement and best practice when working with Background Artists/Supporting Artists/Doubles/Stand-Ins. There’s a video here, along with a one-page … Continue reading
Posted in Bectu Agreements, FAA Agreement
Tagged ADs, Assistant Directors, Film Artists Association (FAA)
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Understanding commuting costs – some bookmarks
For freelancers working either in film and TV, or in Live Events, there is often no option to use public transport to get to work. For a typical filming day, Bectu members tell us that they tend to arrive at … Continue reading
Professionally Made, Professionally Paid – Equity campaign
Just a quick bookmark for an excellent bit of campaigns literature from Bectu’s sister union Equity – Professionally Made, Professionally Paid – an important part of the steps unions are taking to promote a professional attitude to the arts against … Continue reading
What happens when a safety inspector calls?
What should happen when an HSE inspector visits your workplace? To answer this question, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are hosting an event for Trade Union Health and Safety Representatives, providing an overview of the regulation, inspection, and enforcement … Continue reading
Personal Protective Equipment should always be provided by engagers when needed – even for freelancers of all kinds
We have contacted HSE for confirmation that PPE should always be provided by engagers and the fact that a worker is not a direct employee is no defence. For full details of this guidance, see here.
Bectu / UK Theatre code of conduct for “Get-ins, Fit-ups & Get-outs”
Doug McGill has forwarded this to me. From the Preface: “The original Code of Conduct for Get-ins, Fit-ups and Get-outs was created as a result of a serious accident during the unloading of stage flooring on the back of a … Continue reading
Global standard for safe listening venues and events – World Health Organisation guide
The World Health Organisation has published a global standard for safe listening venues and events. It’s a guide to governments, public health agencies, those involved in the creation, distribution, and amplification of music, the private sector, civil society, and everywhere … Continue reading
Government identity checks system changes
If you are self-employed, and you don’t have any of the following… a UK passport, pay slip, tax credit Northern Ireland driving licence … you may find yourself trying to file your next tax return on paper. I’m mentioning this … Continue reading
The Flexibility Paradox
The TUC and Working Families are hosting a launch for a book called The Flexibility Paradox by Dr Heejung Chung on Wednesday 20 April at 1400. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible working has become the norm for many workers. But … Continue reading