Pact Publishes New Recommended Terms and Conditions for Crew on Scripted Productions
Pact is today publishing its Red Book - new recommended terms and conditions for independent producers to use in engaging crew on scripted productions - to provide clarity when the existing agreement ends on 1st September 2022.
Pact and BECTU leaders had this week discussed a four-week extension on the existing agreement. The proposed extension would have allowed time for new negotiations.
However, the proposal was rejected by some of the union branches at a BECTU meeting last night. Without the agreement of all the branches, the union does not have a mandate to proceed with collective negotiations.
Pact is therefore issuing producers with its recommended Red Book terms and conditions to produce clarity around engaging crew in a fair and transparent manner on new productions.
These honour the promise made to crew to address the work-life balance and include a shorter working day and enhanced payments for night work, weekend working, bank holidays and prep and wrap.
John McVay, Pact CEO, said: “We are very disappointed that these serious efforts to get all sides around the table have been rejected by some of the BECTU branches despite the efforts of the union leaders.
“We are always willing to get back around the table if circumstances change.
“But we are acting today to create clarity for producers and crew from next month. The Red Book honours the improvements to terms and conditions, including improvements to the work-life balance, which were offered to crew this summer. The terms are designed to benefit crew at all levels, from the most experienced to those working in the industry for the first time, and to work for productions of all budgets.”
BECTU terminated the current agreement in March and a ballot of members last month rejected an offer which had been negotiated over 10 months.
Some of the union’s members have proposed a new set of payments, terms and conditions.
Producers believe that these demands are unworkable and unaffordable and would jeopardise production in the UK.