The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU), formerly the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union, became a sector of the

Prospect Prospect may refer to: General * Prospect (marketing), a marketing term describing a potential customer * Prospect (sports), any player whose rights are owned by a professional team, but who has yet to play a game for the team * Prospect (mining ...

trade union in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017 following the merger of BECTU with Prospect. It has approximately 40,000 members who work in broadcasting,

film A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmosphere ...

, theatre, IT, telecoms, entertainment, leisure and interactive media.

History

BECTU was founded in 1991 with the merger of the Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians and the Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance, the history of which can be traced back to 1890. In July 1995, the

Film Artistes' Association A film also called a movie, motion picture, moving picture, picture, photoplay or (slang) flick is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, feelings, beauty, or atmospher ...

(FAA), founded in 1927 as a trade union for film extras merged to become a sub-division of BECTU. BECTU's affiliations included the Trades Union Congress, the Scottish Trades Union Congress, Union Network International, the General Federation of Trade Unions and the Federation of Entertainment Unions. Gerry Morrissey was elected General Secretary in February 2007, after the position had been left vacant due to the death of Roger Bolton, who died from cancer in November 2006.

Merger into Prospect

BECTU announced in 2014 that it was in merger talks with the

trade union which represents engineers, managers, scientists and other specialists in both the public and private sectors in the UK. Prospect is not currently affiliated to any political party. At the BECTU Annual Conference held on 14 May 2016 it was agreed to ballot BECTU members on the proposed merger with Prospect. It was announced on 30 August 2016 that BECTU members had overwhelmingly voted Yes to the merger with Prospect which took place on 1 January 2017. BECTU became a sector of Prospect, with Morrissey continuing to lead the sector. In 2018, Philippa Childs took over as secretary of the sector.

Leadership

General Secretaries

:1991:

Tony Hearn David Anthony Hearn (born 4 March 1929), known as Tony Hearn, is a former British trade union leader. Hearn attended Trinity College, Oxford. He began working for the Association of Broadcasting Staff (ABS) in 1955, as assistant to the Gene ...

and

Alan Sapper Alan Sapper (18 March 1931 – 19 May 2006) was a British people, British trade unionist. Born in Hammersmith, Sapper studied at the Latymer Upper School, then worked as a botanist at Kew Gardens while studying with the University of London Exter ...

:1991:

:1993: Roger Bolton :2007: Gerry Morrissey :2017:

Mike Clancy Cristopher J. Clancy (born September 9, 1924–June 11, 1988), better known as Mike Clancy, was an American professional wrestler, sheriff and businessman. Clancy became a prominent performer throughout the National Wrestling Alliance from 1948 ...

* * General Secretary of Prospect following the 2017 merger.

Head of Bectu (after 2017 merger with Prospect)

:2017: Gerry Morrissey :2018: Philippa Childs

Presidents

:1991: Tony Lennon :2010: Christine Bond :2014: Jane Perry :2020: Ann Jones* :2022: Eleanor Wade* * President of Prospect following the 2017 merger.

References

External links

bectu.org.ukCatalogue of the BECTU BBC archives
held at the

Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick The Modern Records Centre (MRC) is the specialist archive service of the University of Warwick in Coventry, England, located adjacent to the Central Campus Library. It was established in October 1973 and holds the world's largest archive collecti ...

{{Portal bar, Organised labour Broadcasting in the United Kingdom Communications and media organisations based in the United Kingdom Entertainment industry unions Organisations based in the London Borough of Lambeth Stockwell Trade unions established in 1991 Trade unions in the United Kingdom 1991 establishments in the United Kingdom Trade unions disestablished in 2017 Trade unions based in London