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Film Crew Safety on the Line: Unions Demand Fair Rest
5 May
Summary
- UK film union Bectu protested major studios over broken rest periods.
- Crew face detrimental effects from squeezed shooting windows.
- One in four surveyed crew admit driving while tired.
UK film and television crew members, represented by the union Bectu, recently staged protests outside major production companies and broadcasters, including Netflix, Amazon, and Disney. The demonstrations highlighted concerns over 'broken turnaround,' a contractual 11-hour rest period between workdays, which the union claims is frequently ignored. This practice is attributed to productions being squeezed into shorter shooting windows to cut costs.
The consequences for crew are described as 'hugely detrimental.' Bectu National Secretary Spencer Macdonald emphasized the negative impacts, such as increased stress, declining health, and reduced productivity. The union's concerns were formally raised in a letter to producers' body Pact, urging a collaborative solution.
A survey by Bectu revealed that broken turnaround is widespread, leading to significant personal and health issues. Notably, 25% of respondents admitted to driving while fatigued, with some experiencing near-accidents. Furthermore, 72% reported difficulty meeting personal commitments due to intense working hours.
While Bectu and UK producers body Pact had previously pledged to eliminate broken turnaround, progress has stalled. This has prompted Bectu's renewed efforts to draw public and industry attention to the issue, with support from various national and international organizations.
