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Category Archives: Trades Unions
“Fewer opportunities” and “less attention to merit” – Apple’s anti-union playbook
A leaked talking-points memo from Apple shows how the use of FUD (Fear Uncertainty and Doubt) reminds us that employers rarely present themselves being as anti-union in principle.
Production Safety Passport
In the new year, the union will be doing some promotion for the Health & Safety dimension of our work. This will include the re-constitution of the Bectu H&S committee that stopped meeting during the pandemic. Each division can send … Continue reading
Working terms in Swedish productions
It’s always worth looking at how other countries do work hours in the film and TV industry, and it is a commonplace view that the Swedish drama sector manages a high quality of production on working hours that also give … Continue reading
Posted in Bectu Agreements, Employment Law and Rights, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Health & Safety, High End TV data, Long hours, Major Motion Picture Agreement, Productivity, SVoD, Tax incentives, Trades Unions, TV Drama Agreement, Work-life balance
Tagged Eyes Half Shut, Scen and Film, Sweden
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The Respect Charter for Supporting Artists
In my relatively new roles as Freelance Research Officer, going through the archives, I keep being reminded of things that the union has done in the past that are worth remembering and revisiting. For example, there are lots of branch … Continue reading
How can unions choose which tech tools will work for them?
A useful report for the TUC’s digital lab from Sam Jeffers (of The Shop) – a roundup of tech tools that unions can use for…. Recruitment (Finding workers and getting first contact with them) Engagement (Building members’ connection to the … Continue reading
Innovations in branch communications – using online tools to build branch engagement
I had a good conversation earlier today with Toby Nutter – Comms Officer for Post Production and Facilities (PP&F) branch which is part of Bectu’s London Production Division. PP&F has an impressive track record in engaging with members, and we … Continue reading
IATSE ballot begins on Friday
The IATSE website is reporting that the Contract Ratification Vote will begin Nov. 12, with results expected on the 15th of November. The deal is outlined here. A 49-page memorandum of agreement (MOA) has been circulated. It summarizes in greater … Continue reading
Violation Tracker UK
Violation Tracker UK is a search tool that brings together data on a range of regulatory infringements committed by companies across the United Kingdom, including employment tribunal data. It has been put together by the Corporate Research Project of Good … Continue reading
More details of the proposed IATSE deal
The actual text of the proposed agreement between IATSE and AMPTP is still in the hands of the lawyers, but IATSE have published some more information about how they will be consulting on this, the financial aspects of the offer … Continue reading
National Living Wage will rise to £9.50 an hour
The 59p increase for workers over 23 – up 6.6% from £8.91 reflects the inflationary pressure outlined here a few weeks ago. The new rates will rise from 1 April 2022 as follows: National Living Wage for over-23s: From £8.91 … Continue reading
IATSE briefs members on the proposed deal
The union is hosting a series of town hall meetings with members, along with this briefing on three key issues in a Twitter thread: NEW: We are releasing our first three one page documents explaining how the new tentative Basic … Continue reading
IATSE update – strike averted – members consider a deal
IATSE have reached an eleventh-hour deal over the weekend to avoid a US film and TV strike. The fine details are yet to be published and Variety are reporting that townhall meetings will be held, along with first reactions. Deadline … Continue reading
Protecting mental health in the workplace – TUC webinar
With the TUC’s Anna Kalsi alongside Peter Kelly, Senior Psychologist at the Health and Safety Executive, discussing what employers should be doing to prevent work-related stress and to protect the mental wellbeing of their employees. Details here. You can register … Continue reading
Bectu: “Do Nothing To Undermine The IATSE Action,”
Bectu has, once again, come out strongly in support of IATSE’s threatened strike action next week, as reported in Deadline earlier today. Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs has urged members to “go further and show solidarity” posting photos with colleagues … Continue reading
IATSE ramps up the pressure: a deal – or a strike on Monday!
IATSE has ramped up the pressure, publishing a Strike Clock counting down to midnight on Monday morning. In a message circulating IATSE members, the line is…. “AMPTP has until Monday 18th at 12:01 am to make us a better offer. … Continue reading
Why unions matter – the economic argument
Here’s a web page that I return to fairly regularly when thinking about wage growth (or lack thereof). Firstly, there this: And then there’s this: See the link?
Posted in Economics, Low pay, Productivity, Trades Unions, Wages and Pay-rates
Tagged Productivity
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How you can support IATSE
Here’s a link to IATSE’s campaign toolkit – lots of resources you can use to show your support.
Highway Code updated – new penalties for being too tired to drive
Every UK driver could face ‘unlimited fines’ under new sleeping law. (Manchester Evening News) This should be of interest to all Bectu members working in production, as well as being useful evidence in support of the campaign we are running … Continue reading
IATSE votes overwhelmingly to mandate coast-to-coast strike action
BREAKING: IATSE Members in TV and Film Production Voted to Authorize the first nationwide industry strike in our 128-year history. 98.68% voted yes, and voter turnout among eligible members was nearly 90% #IASolidarity #IATSEVoted pic.twitter.com/F4wx8cPubi — IATSE // #VoteYES (@IATSE) … Continue reading
DNEG to pay overtime
A major UK VFX facility has finally broken ranks and agreed to pay overtime rates for all work recorded over 40 hours in a week. “Beginning in October, we will pay overtime at 1.5x rate for any incremental time that … Continue reading
TUC Digital Lab – ‘Adapting to the new normal for trade unions’ includes Bectu case study
The TUC is circulating a new report that they have drafted outlining how unions are “adapting to the new normal for trade unions” “The last 18 months have been a time of drastic change. Along with the rest of society, … Continue reading
TUC Congress – online this year
This year’s conference, “Unions building dignity at work” has a public link that allows everyone to watch #TUC21 online. From the TUC September 2021 email: “As we recover from the pandemic, how do we build a world of work that … Continue reading
New ‘Producers Union’ in the US
In the context of some very real fears about a further shift in the balance of power in the film industry, away from the people who make them and into the hands of highly consolidated corporations that have the cash-reserves … Continue reading
TUC webinar on safe working restrictions
The TUC are encouraging people to sign up for their national webinar on the 28th July, which is focused on organising to keep work safe as restrictions end. The government has said social distancing and face coverings are no longer … Continue reading
Posted in Coronavirus, Health & Safety, Safe working practices, Trades Unions
Tagged TUC
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Bectu Intimacy Co-ordinators events
Our @BectuIntimacy branch is hosting a series of summer talks this weekend open to everyone on the amazing work they do to ensure wellbeing and consent on set. Thread below with all the details and links… ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/XHIfaP2dYN — Bectu … Continue reading
TUC calls for furlough to be extended to match lockdown extensions
Frances O’Grady: “Government must delay asking businesses to make contributions to the furlough scheme in July and extend the scheme as long as needed.”
Unions co-ordinating globally to challenge Amazon
Amazon workers from Italy to India are uniting to form a global movement that may have found Jeff Bezos’s Achilles heel.
Uber recognition deal with the GMB
A minor bombshell, GMB and Uber have agreed a recognition deal. TUC general secretary Frances O’Grady said the agreement would give Uber drivers “a real voice at work”.
Posted in Employment intermediaries, Freelancer rights, Gig economy workers, Low pay, Trades Unions
Tagged GMB, Uber
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New research on hybrid working and the right to disconnect
New polling highlights workers’ experiences of lockdown and their views on the future of work. 37% of workers would prefer to be mostly, or completely, office-based 24% want to work mostly, or completely, from home About 40% hope for a … Continue reading
Posted in Health & Safety, Trades Unions, Workplaces
Tagged Hybrid working, Right to disconnect, Working from home
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Rentier capitalism
As Christine Berry says, replacing rentier capitalism is one of the defining challenges of our age. She reviews two books here on the OpenDemocracy website. ‘Rentier Capitalism’ by geographer Brett Christophers ‘Unions Renewed’, Alice Martin and Annie Quick. This, on … Continue reading
Posted in Economics, Employment Law and Rights, Trades Unions
Tagged Rentier capitalism, Trades Unions
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