Why should I join?
Bectu Post Fest © Katarzyna Perlak
Great question! A complex one, but we are very happy to answer! Why should you join us? What is in it for YOU? What will the union do for me?
By being a member, how can the AVU protect, enhance and improve our careers, compared to not being a part of the union? Check our our advantaged below!
MEMBERS
COMMUNICATE SAFETY WITH OTHER PROFESSIONALS
Access our dedicated centralized slack network and discuss with verified industry professionals in safety, with a direct line to BECTU officials too. It’s all strictly confidential.
NON-MEMBERS
HARDER TO SAFELY COMMUNICATE WITH OTHERS IN THE INDUSTRY
Scattered/non-existent communication networks make it harder to organize
MEMBERS
IMMEDIATE BECTU SUPPORT IF YOU ENCOUNTER ISSUES AT YOUR STUDIO
If your studio enforces questionable new policies you feel are unfair, unexplainable salary reductions, mandatory overtime and anything else you feel will negatively affect you and others, you will have BECTU officials right there to support and advise you.
NON-MEMBERS
LITTLE OR NO PROTECTION IF YOU ENCOUNTER ISSUES AT YOUR STUDIO
You won’t have the support of legal professionals or BECTU officials to liaise with the studio regarding any disputes. You most likely will have to tackle this individually, which may make it harder to get a positive resolution with the studio as it is your word against theirs.
MEMBERS
ACTIVE COMMITTEE OF VFX PROFESSIONALS & STUDIO REPS
Our committee is made up of VFX & Animation Professionals actively working in the industry. They understand issues firsthand and constantly work towards finding solutions to current affairs in the industry. You can anonymously join the committee too if you would like!
NON-MEMBERS
NO OFFICIAL REPRESENTATIVES
You are still more than welcome to contact our committee about issues, but we obviously have to put our active members first. Your studio representative may not be able to completely help you if you aren’t a member.
MEMBERS
AUTOMATICALLY LEGALLY PROTECTED
If a member (or group of members) gets unfairly made redundant, fired, or discriminated against, we’ll pay their legal fees which is included in your membership.
NON-MEMBERS
NO LEGAL PROTECTION
If a non-member (or non-member group) gets unfairly made redundant, fired, or discriminated against, you will need to engage your employer legally as an individual and pay any legal costs yourself.
MEMBERS
ACCESS TO TRAINING, MENTORING, AND NETWORKING
We aren’t just here to protect you. We also offer development opportunities to help you thrive in your career. For example, Reps are offered in-depth training which is designed not only to help them be a good rep for members in their branch but to develop skills that can help them thrive in their careers.
NON-MEMBERS
NO ACCESS TO TRAINING
You won’t have access to most BECTU training, mentoring, or networking events. Though there are still many pathways outside of BECTU if you choose.
MEMBERS
WE CAN NEGOTIATE YOUR PAY, TERMS, AND CONDITIONS
If we have enough members in one workplace, we’ll negotiate with the employer to get a better deal for everyone. We strongly recommend this for those starting in the industry. If you prefer doing so individually, that is fine too!
NON-MEMBERS
YOU WILL NEED TO NEGOTIATE INDIVIDUALLY
You will have to negotiate any pay, terms, and conditions yourself with your employer.
MEMBERS
DISCOUNTS AND BENEFITS
Offers include Apple discounts, travel insurance, tax return services, airport parking, gym membership, foreign exchange services, leisure activities, and much more. We also offer Health and Dental plans, professional financial advice, public and personal liability insurance, a benevolent fund, and a death benefit scheme.
NON-MEMBERS
NO DISCOUNTS AND BENEFITS
Any discounts and benefits offered by BECTU will not be accessible to non-members.
MEMBERS
GET INVOLVED!
Get involved with the AVU by helping out with developing rates guidance, improving working environments, and protecting hybrid-working and working-from-home. We can only act on the participation of our members.
Don’t feel like you need to join right now?
Think of it this way. Your membership doesn’t just protect you in the future. It protects other people who need it most right now! It protects everyone.
You wouldn’t wait until a car crash to get car insurance, or wait until a fire starts in your home to ensure your home?
The union is not that different. If you wait until something goes wrong to become a member, it may be too late to do anything. More importantly, the union has the greatest effect in the largest numbers possible. We are a collective who communicates and unifies together. If everyone waits until something has gone happened to just them, we won’t ever see those high membership numbers.
How much does the Union cost to be a member?
We know that times are difficult right now, with prices increasing and bills going up on an almost daily basis. That’s why I’m really pleased to be able to share some good news with you about the cost of your Bectu membership.
As you will know, Bectu is now part of Prospect union, which has brought many advantages in being part of a bigger organisation.
At this year’s Prospect National Conference it was decided to reduce some of the Bectu banded subscriptions for our lower paid members and to introduce a subscription cap of £29.17 per month from 1 January 2023, reducing it from £33.33 for all those earning over £35,000.
Those earning between £12,500 and £20,000 on the banded subscription structure will also see a reduction in your subscriptions.
For those earning between £20,000 and £35,000 we are pleased to confirm that there will be no increase to your subscription, subject to any increase in earnings.
If you’re being impacted by these changes and pay by Direct Debit we’ll be writing to you soon to notify you of this change. If you currently pay above £29.17 through your payroll then you should see this change in your payslip by the end of January 2023.
See below for the new banded rates from 1 January 2023
Gross annual earnings / Monthly subscription / Annual subscription
(£12,501 – £15,000) / £10.00 per month / £120.00 per annum
(£15,001 – £17,500) / £11.25 per month / £135.00 per annum
(£17,501 – £20,000) / £13.33 per month / £159.96 per annum
(£20,001 – £22,500) / £16.66 per month / £199.92 per annum
(£22,501 – £25,000) / £18.75 per month / £225.00 per annum
(£25,001 – £27,500) / £20.83 per month / £249.96 per annum
(£27,501 – £30,000) / £22.92 per month / £275.04 per annum
(£30,001 – £32,500) / £25.00 per month / £300.00 per annum
(£32,501 – £35,000) / £27.08 per month / £324.96 per annum
(£35,001 and over) / £29.17 per month / £350.04 per annum