Bectu – Working for you.
We want to share with you some of the continuing work Bectu has been doing on behalf of its members and the wider creative and events industries during the continued disruption.
Head of Bectu Philippa Childs had been continuing to meet with government officials on a regular basis to make sure the creative and event industry voices are heard in Westminster. Philippa meets regularly with the DCMS and this week briefed Labour’s new Shadow Culture Minister Alison McGovern MP on the impact of coronavirus on the creative industries and the continuing government inaction on securing access to the EU – particularly for our Live Events Network members. Phillipa also urged the MP to keep standing up for the millions who have been excluded from government support.
Additionally Philippa attended Westminster Media Forum panel discussion on priorities for cultural recovery and renewal. During this she spoke about the continuing need for financial support and highlighted the mental health impact following nearly a year of closure for much of the industry.
Next week Philippa will be giving evidence to Gaps in Support APPG to raise to the government its lack of support for creative and event freelancers.
https://www.gapsinsupportappg.org/
Bectu also worked alongside other unions to successfully halt a post-Brexit review of workers rights.
Philippa and other Bectu officials and branch representatives will keep campaigning on behalf of the industry workers both to gain better and more inclusive financial support for them and to try and negate or overcome the increasing number of issues which are coming to light as we move into the Brexit transition period.
Bectu is also in constant discussion with the DCMS, the chancellor’s office and the treasury amongst other government departments. Along with other unions and industry bodies we will keep pressuring the government to provide better and continuing support for jobs, including an extension to the CJRS and SEISS while the industry is still closed or under increased restrictions. Bectu has also been campaigning for the government to underwrite an events insurance scheme for live events and theatre as a matter of urgency.
Our branch officials and reps are always happy to meet and discuss any concerns members have whether they are industry wide issues or on a personal level.
If you have found the work of the Live Events Network useful please consider joining us. The more members we have the more we can do to represent the industry. Go to https://bectu.org.uk/join/ Once you have joined please contact us to let us know so we can make sure you are in the correct branch and on the correct membership rate.
