Pact urges indies to deploy latest drama offer

Pact is standing by its drama agreement offer to Bectu and has distributed a set of terms and conditions for indies working with drama crew, as the impasse between the organisations continues.

The trade body’s latest proposals – dubbed the Red Book – come after a failed attempt to extend the current TV drama agreement a month beyond its 1 September expiration, to allow negotiations between the parties to continue.

Pact’s Red Book intends to provide clarity about how to work with crew in a ”fair and transparent manner when the existing agreement ends”.

The recommendations, applicable to sub-£7m projects, align with those first put forward in July, and include a shorter working day by an hour, enhanced payments for night and weekend work, double pay for bank holidays and additional pay for prep and wrap. The initial proposals proposals were rejected by Bectu earlier this month.

Members of Pact met with broadcasters and streamers last week to discuss the consequences of the TV drama agreement coming to an end, with the PSBs and Sky among the attendees.

Pact chief exec John McVay said he is “very disappointed” some of the Bectu branches rejected the extension “despite the efforts of the union leaders”, and added Pact is willing to continue negotiations if circumstance change. Bectu claims that hte decision to reject the extension was supported by all the Bectu branches involved.

He said: “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.”

Some of the union’s members have proposed a new set of payments, terms and conditions, but according to Pact, the producers believe their demands are unaffordable and could jeopardise production in the UK.

“Our members’ priorities always come first and we remain committed to delivering an improved agreement that adequately addresses their concerns,” said head of Bectu Philippa Childs.  

“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. There has been some progress but not enough to reach agreement or resolve our concerns about night and weekend working or bank holidays. This agreement is critical to driving much-needed improvements to the working lives and wellbeing of scripted TV crew and it’s essential that we get it right.”