Contracts

A contract is a legally binding document between at least two parties that, following negotiations, defines and governs the rights and duties of each of the parties. 

Your representatives have negotiated Collective Terms & Conditions Agreements for Commercials, Feature Films, which have been voted, and accepted, by the membership.

Agreed Rates and Recommended Terms for TV Drama have also approved by way of a membership vote.

Find all the info you need on our Rates & Agreements Page

This information should be used as the basis for worker contracts

But that isn't always the case

You are very strongly advised to read any early notifications from production regarding employment terms, including emails, deal memos and contracts, and to question any parts that deviate from the mutually agreed documentation.

Do not assume that the contract issued by Production will mirror the Agreement. Always read your contract carefully.

You may be told you will not get paid unless you sign the contract, but do not be tempted to sign anything you are not completely happy with as once a contract is signed, it indicates you have understood terms and are prepared to work to them.

Bear in mind that the next time your department Reps and Negotiators are discussing Terms & Conditions updates, it is conceivable that Production Companies Representatives may use your signed contract to establish a precedent to justify further diminishing our agreed terms and conditions.

It has been reported that contracts have been issued, on both TV Drama and Features, that do not match the terms verbally agreed at the time of booking. In most cases, the engager verbally agrees that the relevant agreement will be employed, but later , in writing, instigate changes that could easily be missed in a casual glance over.

In one case, we even saw a deal memo list something correctly, and a contract that said something different... In the same document

Items to be wary of are:

Overtime

Unpaid Prep & Wrap

Travel (both as 1/2 day rate and not classed as work days)

Pro-Rata weeks (5 day contract reduced to 4 or fewer without consultation)

Extended Mileage Boundaries

Broken Turn Arounds (TOC)

Clauses that specify an agreement is not applicable/valid

Moveable Production Base

Deal Memos and Written Statement of Particulars

In accordance with Section 1 of the Employment Rights Act 1996, an employer must supply a 

"Written Statement of Particulars" 

before work starts. 

This document is not an employment contract, but does state the main conditions of employment, and is your first opportunity to raise any questions or concerns about the terms under which you will be engaged.

For our industry, that document comes in the form of a Deal Memo, which along with rates of pay, should include such things as;

Overtime, the days of the week you are required to work, variable shift patterns, holiday entitlement, public holidays, sick pay, maternity/paternity pay training, pensions.

visit the link above for the full picture

A contract of employment is best reinforced in writing, but you are reminded that 

a contract can be verbal.