Time for things to change
YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!
No-one could honestly argue that the TV industry is the best when it comes to employment practices. Production companies led by enlightened industry veterans often do their best in difficult circumstances but ultimately money talks when it comes to budgets, schedules and working hours etc etc.
It doesn’t help when the structure of our industry lends itself to exploitation, where broadcasters set tighter margins and increasingly unworkable budgets and sit back while freelancers often cop the consequence. And PACT…well don’t get us started on that particular body and its hostility to those who actually make the programmes which fund their bottom line. Chief Executive John McVay has plenty of form when it comes to lack of interest in freelancers’ concerns (cf furlough) .
However maybe a watershed moment has arrived, in the form of “an open letter to all UK Broadcasters and Production Companies”, written by a number of Unscripted TV freelancers and backed by BECTU.
The group are advocating for “a cessation of burnout culture, and an easing of the pressures currently felt by TV freelance workers”, which they hope will be achieved by broadcasters and production companies adopting these guidelines:
10-hour rule: A set maximum 10 hour working day on shoots. Hours over this will be charged unless in exceptional circumstances a higher premium (buyout) rate has been agreed with the freelancer.
Prep & Wrap: Shoot days to start as soon as the freelancer starts to travel to location - All prep work done before the shoot, or after the shoot is wrapped to be included in shoot hours.
Solo Working: No crew member to be required to be on location alone (unless under specifically agreed circumstances).
Rest breaks: Schedules must allow for rest breaks. If the legal length of break is not given, this will be an additionally charged period of work.
Notice Periods & Cancellation Fee: If a contract is terminated before or after commencement through no fault of the freelancer, a pre-agreed payment will be required.
Rate Protection: Broadcasters to ensure Production Companies protect freelancer rates and not reduce them to supplement the budget.
None of this can be brought about however, without the support of all of us in the industry.
Which is why the next click you make needs to be on this link, which is where you can support this excellent cause.
Change can only happen if we all collectively push that boulder up the hill so please everyone add your name and who knows, we might just be able to change things for the better, and for good.