Recognition is won for BBC freelancers

Broadcasting union BECTU has won recognition to represent its 800 members who work freelance at BBC Scotland.

The union can now negotiate collectively on their behalf instead of only being able to represent them individually. It has already begun negotiating an increase in freelance rates for 2005-06.

"This is a great step forward that allows us to do something for freelance rates of pay, which have not gone up for years," said BECTU's BBC supervisory official, Luke Crawley. "Our Scottish officer Paul McManus has done such a good job of organising our Scottish freelance members that the BBC had little choice but to reach a voluntary agreement or face a statutory claim for recognition - the BBC chose the voluntary agreement."

BECTU hopes the agreement will be a precedent for organising freelance staff working at the BBC elsewhere in the UK.