BFI To Involve Broadcasting Union Bectu With UK Skills Task Force After Being Accused Of “Disappointing” Snub

deadline.com:

EXCLUSIVE: The BFI is to involve Bectu with its Skills Task Force after being slammed for the “disappointing” decision to initially exclude the union.

Deadline understands the two bodies met last night and Bectu will play a role with the Task Force going forwards. Chaired by former Amazon Studios Europe boss Georgia Brown, the Task Force was unveiled earlier today to address major skills shortages in the UK film and TV sector over the next five years.

The 20-plus delegates sitting on the body includes streamers, U.S. studios, UK broadcasters and a number of trade bodies, but has no union representation.

The group has met once already without Bectu. Philippa Childs, who heads up the union, described this decision as “disappointing” but said the union is “pleased to confirm we have been invited to the next Task Force meeting” after “making clear to the BFI how critical workers’ representation on the Task Force is.” If the task force wants to achieve its goal of addressing skills gaps and challenges in the UK, Childs said it is “essential to give workers a voice at the table.” “Bectu has long been vocal about the need to address the skills shortage, emphasising that collaboration with all relevant industry stakeholders will be critical in achieving this,” she added. “You cannot fully discuss or seek to tackle skills shortages in the UK film and TV industry without considering working practices.” A BFI spokeswoman said the Task Force is “still in its early stages” and described the first Task Force meeting, which Bectu wasn’t invited to, as an “employer-focused group to explore how they would step up to address the recommendations in the Skills Review.” “As pointed out by Philippa, Bectu will be at the next meeting, and