New BBC Agreement Approved By Freelance Members

In a consultative ballot, BECTU freelance members have approved the BBC’s offer on pay and other matters for ‘series and serial’ dramas made by BBC Visions. Of those taking part, 70% voted in favour of the new agreement.
The pay offer was a modest 1% rise on minimum rates, backed up by a BBC guarantee that they do not intend to reduce the rates of any freelances currently paid above those minimums.
Of equal significance are the new commitments to exchange information and consult on issues such as working hours and scheduling, including the length of the working week. The agreement also provides greater clarity on payment of ‘box money’, overnights, travel time and meal allowances.
AGS Martin Spence welcomed the ballot result saying: “I’m delighted that members have shown their support for this new agreement and this new relationship with the BBC. Now we can start the real work: using it to deliver practical results on the ground for freelance crews. And of course this is just the beginning: we also aim to broaden the scope of the new relationship, initially in other areas of drama production.”
(BMcN)