Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union

The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union (BECTU), formerly the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union, is a former British trade union that became a sector of the Prospect trade union in the United Kingdom on 1 January 2017, following the transfer of engagements of BECTU to Prospect. It has approximately 40,000^[1] members who work in broadcasting, film, theatre, IT, telecoms, entertainment, leisure and interactive media.

Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union

Merged into	Prospect
Founded	1991
Dissolved	1 January 2017
Headquarters	100 Rochester Row, London, SW1P 1JP
Location	United Kingdom
Members	40,000
Affiliations	TUC, STUC, UNI, GFTU, ICTU, FEU
Website	bectu.org.uk

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.^[2] In July 1995, the Film Artistes' Association (FAA), founded in 1927 as a trade union for film extras merged to become a sub-division of BECTU.^[2]

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,^[3] after the position had been left vacant due to the death of Roger Bolton, who died from cancer in November 2006.^[4]

Merger into Prospect

BECTU announced in 2014 that it was in merger talks with the Prospect trade union which represents engineers, managers, scientists and other specialists in both the public and private sectors in the UK.^[5] Prospect is not currently affiliated to any political party.^[6] At the Bectu Annual Conference held on 14 May 2016 it was agreed to ballot Bectu members on the proposed merger with Prospect.^[7] 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.^[8] BECTU became a sector of Prospect, with Morrissey continuing to lead the sector. In 2018, Philippa Childs took over as secretary of the sector.^[9]

Leadership

General Secretaries

1991: Tony Hearn and Alan Sapper

1991: Tony Hearn

1993: Roger Bolton

2007: Gerry Morrissey

2017: Mike Clancy*

*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

2017: Denise McGuire*

2018: Craig Marshall*

2020: Ann Jones*

2022: Eleanor Wade*

*President of Prospect following the 2017 merger.