Watershed between BECTU and arts centre


Entertainment union BECTU has reached a voluntary recognition agreement with Watershed, a cultural cinema and digital creativity centre in Bristol after a vote in favour by staff. 


The ballot, organised by employment relations service Acas, involved 134 staff. Of the 75 who took part, 55 voted “yes”, exceeding the required threshold of 40% of the bargaining unit. The agreement takes effect from 1 November.


Watershed and BECTU had been negotiating constructively over a recognition agreement for two months, with input from Acas. 


The union said: “The ambition was to achieve a fair balance between the needs of the charity established to promote the arts for public benefit and the needs of staff to have a voice in the workplace. Both sides feel that this has now been achieved.”

www.bectu.org.uk/news/2635