Amid growing reports of a lack of work for freelancers in the unscripted television sector, creative industries union Bectu has issued a call for urgent action. Following a motion carried out at the union’s recent national conference, freelance TV professionals are said to be seeing “unprecedented gaps in employment.”
The motion from the unscripted branch of Bectu claimed that 2023 had, so far, been “unusually quiet” for freelancers in the sector, with many saying they have not worked since January or even earlier. Bectu said that this was “uncharacteristic of the industry and is alarming at a time when many freelancers are still suffering from precarious employment following the impacts of the pandemic.”
The union has added that, with many freelancers having left the industry over recent years and many others considering leaving, the issue could mean that, when production starts to return to normal levels, the unscripted workforce may not be sufficient to meet demand.
Bectu said that freelancers had called for productions to urgently be green lit and budgets approved to enable them to return to work. The union is urging industry stakeholders – such as production companies, broadcasters and streaming providers – to co-operate to “address the issue as a matter of urgency”.
The union has also begun surveying freelancers in the unscripted TV industry as it seeks to understand the scale of the problem and the impact it might have, with the findings of this research set to inform its discussions with industry figures.
Philippa Childs, head of Bectu, commented: “The ‘feast or famine’ nature of the industry – whereby there may be an overabundance of work one minute, and none the next – is an incredibly challenging environment to work in and we urge the industry to come together not just to address the current crisis, but to commit to long-term change. Broadcasters must better communicate with freelancers and give them a seat at the table to find solutions to a system that places all of the risks of employment and unemployment on the individual workers.”
“Talented workers who are the backbone of the industry are suffering, and we must not underestimate the damaging impact of this system, both financially and in terms of mental health and wellbeing. Their skills, talents and livelihoods must be better respected.”
