NUJ or BECTU? Any other media workers in unions out there?
May 23 2008
In my workplace both unions are recognised since it's a sort of crossover between broadcasting and journalism (TV schedules and billings). Also for historical reasons as this company used to be part of the BBC (it now contracted by them instead).
I'm about to join one of them, so any advice on which which union is better? They are both involved in current pay negotiations and seem friendly enough toward each other. I just had a word with the BECTU rep and he told me about the NUJ rep too so there is no question of scab unions or whatever.
Any NUJ or BECTU people here?
May 23 2008
#2
I've been a lay official with BECTU - on and off - since they were still called BETA, prior to the amalgamation with the ACTT in 1991. With the exception of some shitty times during the late 1980s when all the unions were running scared, falling over themselves trying to make "Super Unions" (there was talk at one conference I attended of BETA, ACTT and the NUJ linking up) while bending over backwards to "befriend" the managements of the various businesses they were recognised at in the hope of retaining influence, I've always found them to be helpful and concientious. I can say this as they have assisted me in setting up and getting recognition for a new branch, as part of the regional negotiating committee and as a departmental representative across a number of different companies.
It should be noted that my other direct union links have been with Unison and Usdaw, for short lived jobs, but the reps I met from those two unions didn't make me see a valid reason to join. This has been sadly confirmed by their reps I've met on various TU courses too. That they're too disparate and too big for effective action is probably the reason why.
For the past two years I've also been with the IWW, so I'm obviously ambiguous about the role the TUC affiliated unions have outside of the immediate workplace.
While I don't necessarily enjoy the Labour Party link to BECTU I have to say that I have not opted out; like their close links to the employment law firm Thompsons (BECTU and Thompsons got the EU precedent for the Working Times Regulations to apply to "zero hour contract" - casual - workers) and to the government (under-)funded ACAS I consider it to be a necessary evil at this point in time. My current employer, and the employers umbrella group they belong to, are far far more easily swayed by interpretations of employment law and parliamentary discussion group records than by threats of direct action... and that's not even starting to factor in the usual apathetic behaviour of most union members should direct action be proposed.
But enough about what I think. You are legally entitled to opt out of the political levy with any UK union, and have been able to do so since the late 1980s raft of Thatcherite employment laws were passed. In the BECTU link this is made plain with instructions on how to do it - write in to the named individual and claim your £1.56 back, but we'd rather you didn't because... Section Four of the NUJ Rules you've linked to suggest you have to get permission of the NEC to opt out. I would assume that this is because the initial page of the link implies that the political levy is spread across numerous action groups. I tried about thirteen different searches of the site without getting a direct answer. (Though I did find a press release dated today babbling about a debating session showing how the NUJ was geared up for the rapid change of media... featuring Tony Benn and David Aaronovitch 
)
May 23 2008
#3
The issue with political funds is a bit more complex than just about the Labour Party. The other side of the Thatcherite "opt-out" legislation is that it restricted unions from campaigning on "political" issues, i.e. anything outside terms and conditions and pay unless they had a political fund that members opted into. The NUT and Nalgo both had a non-affiliated fund, which, while there were problems with it, was a lot better than the affiliated funds that most unions have, whose purpose is to fund the government to oppress us. 
The non-affiliated fund was carried over from Nalgo into Unison. I'd have thought the NUJ would have had a non-affiliated one, perhaps an NUJ member could enlighten us? And of course the RMT's one is now non-affiliated.
The net effect of not having a political fund, affiliated or not, would be that BECTU couldn't campaign against the privatisation of the BBC or Channel 4, for example. Personally I think it's worth campaigning within whatever union you join for a non-affiliated political fund - Labour don't deserve any of our money.
Regards,
Martin
May 27 2008
#4
Great advice and info, thanks a lot. At the moment I'm more inclined towards the NUJ because a) any future job move I make is more likely to be within journalism rather than broadcasting; and b) I'm just more familiar with them.
However, there is another issue -- that of who the union reps are (and this sort of goes to the heart of the weaknesses of mainstream TUC unions I guess). The NUJ rep is actually the guy who interviewed me for this job! He's on the same level as my line manager. Now, luckily he's the team leader for a different team from mine (radio -- I'm on TV). And he's always seemed like a sound bloke and even in the company training he gave us he was moaning about the effects of privatisation and the stupidity of top management etc.
But still, his high position + union status doesn't sit right with me. His high position seems to make it unlikely for him to lead a walk out or strike to be honest (and we're getting stuffed on pay right now).
The BECTU rep is also quite high up but is a different team leader altogether. He actually splits his time between this office and another, so is only here a couple of days a week, so would not be as available as the NUJ guy.
In fariness to both unions, we do have quite a high staff turnover here and these two guys have been around for a while.
Thoughts? Experiences?
May 27 2008
#5
My contact with BECTU people at the BBC in the same sort of subcontracted departments as you have indicated the problem of retaining strong branch memberships due to the high turnover of staff; in fact it seems to be across the board in "Entertainment" due to the large number of casual workers and proliferation of short-term contracts. The experienced full-timers end up either leaving as they get fed up with perpetually taking on the extra unpaid responsibility of training up new staff - or they get promoted to positions where the workforce view them with suspicion. Given the appalling wages in the industry its a bit of a Catch 22 situation that the senior management will exploit at every opportunity.
While I can see your point about their status it should be remembered that a) they are still union grade employees, and are as individuals willing to take on the responsibility of representing their co-workers, and b) as lay officials they are responsible to the membership, and if they're not willing to follow the members wishes to strike or whatever they should be removed from office and replaced.
As to the availability of these two individuals, I'd point out that most of the more "immediate" issues I face are resolved via e-mail. Which is a good thing as my branch members are scattered throughout the West End and outer London in five different companies...
If you've prior reasonable experience of the NUJ and intend to continue in Journalism I can see why you'd be persuaded by them, but if I were you the first thing I'd be looking at would be which one of these two reps is the more effective. Perhaps you should be asking around the office amongst the longer-term staff members?
Good luck anyway!
May 27 2008
#6
Hm, yes good points. Actually talking to people: yea I need to do a bit more of that! Spend far too long stuck behind this PC. Blurgh.
Cheers! I will update when I've decided and finally joined one...
May 27 2008
#7
I was a member of BECTU for a while, and found them to be very helpful on the one time I needed it - also I've heard good stuff from elsewhere...
I agree with Martinh about the political fund.
Jun 2 2008
#8
Had a word with the NUJ guy today and I've decided to join them in the end. Mostly because it's more relevant in terms of my sector. He's already got me forms counter signed with proposer and seconder! Sweet.
Had a word with the BECTU guy as well last week and he was very good too and said that the main thing is make sure to join one or other of them and it doesn't matter so much which one. Very constructive attitude. Glad they are working together.
Also, the way the BECTU affiliations page reads, it sounds like you can opt-out of supporting the whole political fund, but not part of it:
http://www.bectu.org.uk/about/affiliations/index.html
So that the case? I have not problem with most of those things but obviously don't want to support the Labour Party.
On the other hand, the NUJ list seems incomplete, since I'm sure I heard they support Labour but it's not listed here:
http://www.nuj.org.uk/innerPagenuj.html?docid=158
Can anyone shed any light?