BECTU is the UK's media and entertainment trade union, representing more than 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in creative industries.
BECTU, a sector of Prospect, supports members working in non-performance roles in broadcasting; film and cinema; digital media; independent production; leisure; IT and telecoms, and theatre and the arts.
BECTU’s wide-ranging work on behalf of members includes:
- Negotiating pay, conditions and contracts with employers
- Personal advice and representation for individual members
- Advice and representation on health and safety
- A raft of member benefits and services
- Training support and professional courses
- Networking events and career development opportunities
- A quarterly union journal, Stage Screen and Radio
- Website including news, events and members’ only information and advice
Membership is open to anyone working or seeking employment in the sectors covered by BECTU
The key aims of BECTU are to:
- protect jobs
- build our community to become stronger
- win new recognition agreements
- improve pay and conditions of service, including pensions
BECTU Offices
BECTU's head office is in London and it has regional offices in Birmingham, Cardiff, Salford Quays and Glasgow.
Union democracy
BECTU is a democratic organisation run by representatives elected amongst its membership. Members are grouped into local branches, who send representatives to the policy-making annual conference.
Branches are grouped into six divisions: Arts & Entertainment; BBC; Independent Broadcasting; London Production; Regional Production, and Communications and Digital.
BECTU’s Sector Executive Committee (SEC), which is made up of members elected by secret ballot every two years, has responsibility for the running of BECTU. The sector is also represented on Prospect's National Executive Committee (NEC). Members can find the NEC meeting minutes here. View the union's rules.
Equality
BECTU is committed to equality of opportunity for all people at work. The union supports policies that encourage and support cultural diversity and respect.
BECTU’s Equality and Diversity Committee is a focal point for the union's efforts to encourage more women to participate fully in developing policies and initiatives.
The Black Members' Committee aims to increase diversity in the workplace and the union.
The Disabled Members' Network provides information and support for disabled members.
Affiliations
BECTU's affiliations include:
- Trades Unions Congress - The TUC is the internationally recognised umbrella organisation for the UK's unions
- Union Network International – UNI has more than 900 affiliated unions around the world
- General Federation of Trade Unions – GFTU is the UK federation for specialist unions
- Federation of Entertainment Unions – the FEU group includes:
- Film & TV Charity, a leading industry charity
- NUJ
- Professional Footballers Association
- Unite
BECTU was founded in 1991 following a series of mergers between separate unions during the 1980s, and its history can be traced back to 1890.
Last page update 23 April 2019.
