Motion no: 16
As long ago as 2013, the Federation of Entertainment Unions published a survey which identified entertainment workplaces as hotspots of discrimination, bullying, and harassment. The competitive nature of the work, often seen as glamorous, and the large number of freelancers are a contributing factor, as is the unspoken acceptance that bullying is part of the creative process allowing ‘talent’ to behave in unacceptable ways.
Fast forward to 2018 and no-one could have missed the recent press reports regarding sexual harassment within the same industry.
Women have long known that to speak out is to risk everything and have chosen to remain silent; it is much more difficult for women freelancers, and freelance women are vulnerable women. And it’s not only women who are affected – there is no doubt that people from minority groups working in such hotspots are also disadvantaged.
In 2017 our union wrote to all the major players within UK film and TV production asking them to address our concerns. We believe a pan industry approach is necessary to promote a workplace culture which establishes zero tolerance of bullying and harassment in the working environment. We call upon Conference to support us to introduce a ‘respect at work’ clause in all staff and freelance contracts, such a clause being designed to commit the parties to working to deliver respect at work for all.
