Updated Commercial Rates from 1st September
The Lighting Technicians Branch (LTECH), a Member of BECTUs London Production Division (LPD)
The Lighting Technicians Branch (LTECH) was set up to represent workers who predominantly work in the Feature Film, Commercial and TV Drama Sectors, under BECTUs London Production Division (LPD), but is also in regular contact, and consultation with technicians in all regional geographical branches, right across the UK under the Regional Production Division (RPD)
The elected Branch Officers form the LTECH Branch Committee, responsible for the structure and running of the Branch.
LTECH Sub-Committees are made up of a volunteer members with a vested interest in that specific area. Overseen by an Admin team under the watchful eye of an elected Officer, the sub-committee discusses sector specific issues , such as rates, terms and policy.
The named Elected Officers, plus more restricted information, can be found by logging in to the
Collectively, the following roles are responsible for ensuring that all decisions are taken in the best interests of the Branch and that their role is carried out effectively.
Click on the drop down arrows to learn more about each roleThe Branch Chair presides at all branch conferences or committee meetings and is responsible for:
the proper conduct of the meeting
ensuring that business is kept moving
clarifying the issues under discussion
ensuring that clear decisions are reached and recorded.
The Chair is usually an experienced rep with a wider representational role in negotiations or consultation, and has a wide overview of Branch business
Position currently vacant - Please contact the Secretary for more details or to express interest
The Vice-Chair aids the Chair to carry out their duties.
Should the Chair not be available to conduct the role in meetings etc, the Vice Chair will temporarily step up to act as Chair in their absence.
This a key role in our branch and needed under union rules.
The secretary’s duties are:
calling branch committee meetings, branch conferences or annual general meetings and making all associated practical arrangements - the LTECH Branch meets 3 times a year
preparing and circulating agendas, minutes and action lists
during meetings, assisting the president/chair by presenting information and introducing items for which they are responsible
maintaining branch records
being the conduit between the branch committee and Bectu headquarters or body with which the branch is associated with.
Some branches have an assistant secretary or minutes secretary to help with administration. In most branches, the secretary is an experienced rep with a wider representational role in negotiations or consultation.
Position currently vacant - Please contact the Secretary for more details or to express interest
The Vice-Secretary aids the Secretary to carry out their duties.
Duties include:
maintaining Branch membership records
liaising with Bectu headquarters on recruiting eligible people into membership
organising recruitment in the branch and reporting regularly to the branch committee on this
welcoming new joiners to the branch offering in insight into branch activity, highlighting the Sparks branch website, and ensuring they have contact details of the Branch Mobile, and email address(es).
Aiding members with membership queries
The LTECH Branch has developed a structure of Sub-committees, populated with many experienced Lighting Technicians of all grades to research, discuss and negotiate better terms, rates and working practices.
Each Sub-Committee Chair oversees the work of the sub-committee, shares the outcomes of discussions with the Branch Committee and has a say on much of the running of the Branch.
Position currently vacant - Please contact the Secretary for more details or to express interest
Further Reading - Rates & Agreements
Further Reading - Rates & Agreements
Further Reading - Rates & Agreements
Employers are required to create a culture of cooperation on health and safety, engaging with crew to ensure they go home safe and well from their work.
The H&S Chair oversees the work done by the committee, who were instrumental in creating content for the BFC Guidance, as well as producing the Lighting Departments new working practices guide, which together were part of a bigger imitative to get the Film & Television industry back up and running following the Covid 19 Pandemic
Further Reading - Newsletters
The Branch Training Officer/ Union Learning Rep, is responsible for the Sub Committee who researches and discusses potential training options for the betterment of the Lighting Department
Union learning reps have specific legal rights and powers. Their duties include:
promoting training and development in the workplace by providing advice and information on learning initiatives
supporting members who want to review and broaden their portfolio of skills
helping to identify sources of training or learning provision.
Further Reading - Train & Learn
The London Production Divisional Committee consists of representatives elected from all LPD branches on a proportional basis and is involved in organising and supporting a range of events and discussing wider union policy and collective campaigns.
LPD rules states that for every 500 members, branches are entitled to send 1 rep to LPD Committee Meetings.
We currently have 2 Elected LPD officials, plus the Chair, Secretary and 1 substitute authorised to attend LPD meetings.
The LTECH Branch reps attend these meetings, usually 4 times a year, to give reports on our branch activity to LPD and to learn what other branches grievances are and the actions that are being undertaken, with notes of interest being reported bach to our branch.
see What is LPD?
See our Committee Contact Page to get in touch with the right person
We are always conscious reps are volunteers and that some can give a little, others can give a lot.
Each rep must find their own boundaries.
Position vacant - Please contact the Secretary for more details or to express interest
The Branch operates a Mobile phone, with an online SMS service, plus email addresses, in order for members to get advice and notifications.
Should a member wish to find out about a specific issue, or needs advice about reading an agreement or other industrial matter, the First Point of contact is the Branch Mobile, AkA "The BatPhone" or via Email. This person, or group of people are not expected to answer queries there and then, but can pass the query onto one of our committee leads, other representative or paid BECTU Official who will have relevant expertise to pick up that query.
In the lead up to the reforms, in April 2021, BECTU head office held a series of meetings and seminars for branches to discus multiple issues surrounding IR35. As a department with many members who operate under a Ltd co / loan out contract, a representative was sought to oversee all aspects of IR35 and be the link between the Branch and BECTU research, responsible for tackling HMRC.
Since April, there have been just a handful of queries, which have been dealt with swiftly.
More info on our Tax/IR35 Page
One of our long serving committee members is also a long standing member of the committee that looks after the development and maintenance of BS7909 at BSi. As such, they are also BECTUs representative at BSi, serves on BECTUs National Health & Safety Committee, and reports back to our Branch H&S Reps
More info on our BS7909 Page
Researches, publishes and maintains the sparksbranch website
If you find any errors, or wish to have something published to the site, contact :
If you are passionate about a particular cause, the Branch Committee invites you to become our rep at those union wide meetings,
Potential issues to be involved in include:
multiple specialist committees on Equality & Diversity, See a selection Here
Low Budget Action Plan
and much more besides
BECTU "Become a Rep" page - includes videos and general information
Contact the Branch Secretary for Branch specific information and register interest
Meetings for each Sub-committee will be held throughout the year as required and Chaired by the appropriate Sub-Committee Lead.
The frequency of these meetings are determined by the individual Committee.
The Elected Officers of the Committee meet regularly to share information and to discuss the running and promotion of the Branch.
As per the By-Laws, an Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be called once a year, where all members are invited to elect the Officers of the Branch, Sub-Committee Leads and other Elected Roles, in addition to discussing the year just gone, and to plan for the upcoming year.
At least 2 other General Meetings will be called throughout the year, which will be open to all members.
Provisional dates for Branch wide GM & AGM, will be presented at the AGM, and confirmed closer to the date.
The Branch operates under the BECTU Rule book, with By-Laws compiled and agreed by members at the Annual General Meeting, AGM.