22/03/2005

BECTU, the main union representing TV, film, theatre, entertainment and interactive media workers in the UK has agreed with the main UK producers’ association PACT to a 3.86% increase in recommended minimum rates for film and TV freelance workers from April 1st, 2005.

The new PACT/BECTU freelance rate card includes rates for 8 to 12 hours work per day and 40 to 72 hours work per week for film and TV freelance workers.
According to BECTU which counts some 25,000 members, the new rise is meant to compensate in part for the fact that the minimum rates have been held since October 2003 when the last rise was agreed with PACT.

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But while agreeing to the new increase, the main employers representative body PACT also said that they wished to renegotiate the main agreements for freelance workers in the industry. For the worker’s union, such a renegotiation will take place against a deteriorating background of film production. Various factors such as the close down of tax breaks last year by the government and the ailing US dollar which is keeping US producers away have contributed to a lower level productions and inward investment in the UK in 2004. BECTU officials added that they are bracing themselves for a bad 2005 which will put pressure on film budgets and in turn on rates offered to UK film crews.