The ongoing negotiations on working conditions on high end TV between U.K. producers body Pact and crew union Bectu have hit a wall, with the former suggesting that the latter’s proposals are financially unviable.
The terms Pact offered last week on productions costing up to £7 million ($8.3 million) an hour were shorter working days, additional pay for prep and wrap, payment for working unsocial hours, a higher overtime fee cap and paying days worked over public holidays at double time. This would apply on all scripted productions including comedy and children’s shows. The proposal also included the creation of a new budget band for productions costing over £7 million an hour “with further enhanced terms to be negotiated with Bectu as a priority.”
Bectu declared Monday that the terms were unacceptable and that they would be balloting their members with the recommendation to reject Pact’s offer. Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “After receiving Pact’s proposal last week we have carefully considered it and consulted our representatives. Although we are grateful that Pact presented an improved offer, it does not properly define work time and personal time. We also feel that the details and clarity needed for members to feel safe and secure have been addressed. Our members should reject the Pact offer.
“We have been clear from the beginning that the updated agreement needs to urgently address the long hours and wellbeing crisis our members are facing. The current agreement does not address this. Many of the improvements are only applicable to shooting hours/days. Devaluing work done beyond filming hours is also devalued. There are also loopholes that would permit productions to avoid penalties. We also want to see an agreement that protects against the exploitation and exploitation of prep and wrap arrangements, which we know is a common practice in TV drama.
“This agreement will make significant changes to the working lives and wellbeing of scripted TV crew and it’s essential that we get it right. We look forward to continuing discussions with Pact to deliver an agreement that meets our objective of improving crew wellbeing and reducing excessive and unsociable hours, and supporting industry growth.”
However, on Tuesday, Pact deputy CEO and director of business affairs, Max Rumney said: “Pact has made a progressive offer which is a serious attempt to address workplace conditions and the work/life balance. It will be a retrograde step that risks immense damage to TV scripted production in the U.K. if it is thrown out in favour of Bectu’s proposal to its members which is completely unviable and stands no chance of being implemented on productions.
“Financial modelling now being done by producers makes clear many productions will not be shot in the U.K. under the increased costs from Bectu’s alternative proposals — damaging a production ecosystem that has made the U.K. one of the best places in the world to make television. In many cases, Bectu’s suggested proposals make productions more expensive without addressing work/life balance challenges in the way we believe our key offers do.
“Bectu terminated the collective agreement which has run since 2017 without a ballot. They will now vote after we have asked them, but they are also making their own proposals unilaterally. They claim to still want a collective agreement but, if Pact’s offer is rejected, there will be no collective agreement after 1st September, and no transparency or certainty on terms of work. Everyone – broadcasters, streamers, crew as well as independent producers who have been negotiating in good faith – will lose if that happens. Bectu plays a dangerous game.
“We have worked very hard to meet the concerns of Bectu point by point. If there is any lack of clarity on any part of our offer, they only need to ask. We are urging their members to accept the new offer and work with us to continue progress on workplace conditions.”