Punish TV company's bad behaviour, says BECTU

Entertainment union BECTU has called on the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (PACT) to expel a TV production company that flouted industry agreements on supporting artists.

The Film Artistes' Association (FAA), which is affiliated to BECTU, claims that Shed Productions hired extras for its series Bad Girls through a company that does not use the minimum pay contracts agreed by the FAA and PACT.

"We look after independent production extras and as such we have negotiated a daily and nightly rate of pay with PACT," said an FAA spokesperson. "This is a peak-time production on a main channel, so why are they trying to scrimp and save on the lowest-paid part of the production?"

Under the FAA/PACT agreement, extras are paid £69.43 for a nine-hour day, including an hour for lunch. According to FAA chairman Paul Kirby, those on Bad Girls received only around £80 for a 12-hour day.

PACT says it is investigating the matter.