Union Activism: an Exploration
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Union activism: an exploration of the differential consequences of employee and freelancer experiences Edith Ann Jones Professional Doctorate in Researching Work Working Lives Research Institute London Metropolitan University November 2018 Abstract The aim of this thesis is to explore how employee and freelancer lay active members of the UK union BECTU (Broadcast, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union), who are not employees of the union, view the effects of their activism on their professional and personal lives. In doing so it discusses whether participants’ views are affected by their definition of the term ‘activist’, and by the nature of their relationship with the union. Central to this study is the question of whether participants’ responses might differ depending on their employee or freelancer employment status. In order to contextualise the study background desk based research into the existing literature is undertaken. It explores the key themes of trade union activism and employee and freelancer employment status, and the relevance of a range of theoretical perspectives is discussed. Overviews of the relevant aspects of the UK broadcast industries, and of BECTU’s history and structure, are provided in order to further inform the research. A combined methods approach is adopted, providing qualitative and quantitative data in order to deliver comprehensive answers to the main research questions. The primarily qualitative research involves semi-structured interviews conducted with high profile union activists. A questionnaire completed by delegates attending BECTU’s Annual Conference in 2014 provides quantitative data to complement and enrich the findings of the qualitative data. This thesis contributes to the existing literature about trade union activism by uncovering how its participants define the term ‘activism’ and assessing the effects of activism on individual members rather than on unions as entities. It illustrates the importance of seeking to understand and utilise participants’ definitions of value laden terms, rather than depending on researchers’ initial interpretations. It finds that although there are some differences between the effects of trade union activism on employees and on freelancers, how individuals’ view their relationship with the union influences the importance that they place on those effects. i Table of contents Page Abstract i Table of Contents ii List of tables vi Abbreviations viii Acknowledgements x Chapter 1 Contextualisation 1 1.1 Broadcast industries: political and cultural climate 4 1.2 Changes in the workforce 12 1.3 Technological developments and their impact on the workforce 14 1.4 BECTU’s history 16 1.5 BECTU’s organisation and structure 24 1.6 Summary 29 Chapter 2 Literature review – activism and its effects 31 2.1 Social capital theory 31 2.2 Networking and social capital 34 2.3 Mobilization 42 2.4 The effects of mobilization on unions 44 2.5 Activists’ relationship with the union and its effect on mobilization 47 2.6 The effects of mobilization and activism on individuals 52 2.7 The meanings of key terms and their determinants 57 ii 2.8 The meaning of freelancer status 62 2.9 Summary 66 Chapter 3 Methodology - the road travelled – how, why and when? 70 3.1 Research questions 73 3.2 Selecting the most appropriate methods for this study 74 3.3 Specifics of the qualitative research 83 3.4 Piloting the interviews 83 3.5 Reflecting on and developing the interview schedule 85 3.6 Transcription 90 3.7 Quantitative research 91 3.8 Pre-piloting and piloting the questionnaire 92 3.9 Data analysis 96 3.10 Desk based research 100 3.11 Field Diary 101 3.12 Ethics 102 3.13 The insider researcher 104 3.14 Other considerations 109 3.15 Timeframe 112 Chapter 4 Analysis – the meanings of activism 113 4.1 Demographics 114 4.2 ‘Activist is the way other people perceive you’ (Lionel, employee, August 2014) 119 4.3 Freelancer by choice or forced into freelancing? 129 iii 4.4 ‘Activist’ connotations 132 4.5 Participants’ definitions of the term ‘activist’ 135 (i) Respondents who self-identified as activists 136 (ii) Respondents who did not self-identify as activists 137 4.6 Activism in different contexts 144 4.7 How participants’ age affected their responses 146 4.8 Summary 150 Chapter 5 Analysis – the effects of activism and participants’ relationship with the union 152 5.1 The effects of trade union activism 154 5.2 Positive effects of trade union activities 154 (i) Confidence 156 (ii) Friendships and networking 160 (iii) Professional experience, skills and knowledge 170 (iv) Work opportunities 175 5.3 Negative effects of trade union activities 179 (i) Loss of time 181 (ii) Loss of work opportunities 183 5.4 Relationship with the union 187 5.5 Summary 194 Chapter 6 Conclusion 195 6.1 ‘Union activist is a very frightening term’ (Tricia, freelancer, October 2014, ex-employee of a commercial broadcaster) 197 6.2 Freelancer status 201 6.3 The effects of trade union activism 202 (i) Positive effects 202 (ii) Negative effects 203 iv 6.4 A covenantal relationship 205 6.5 Associated avenues for exploration 206 6.6 Summary 207 References 211 Appendices A BECTU’s Operational structure 227 B Interview Schedule 229 C Participant information sheet 234 D Confidential, anonymous questionnaire 235 E Interviewee consent form 244 v List of Tables Page Table 1 BECTU membership breakdown 1991-2014 13 Table 2 Interviewees’ demographic statistics 115 Table 3 Questionnaire respondents’ demographic statistics 116 Table 4 Employee interviewees’ union roles and activist response 119 Table 5 Freelancer interviewees’ union roles and activist response 120 Table 6 Interviewees’ status, activist response and role 123 Table 7 Questionnaire respondents’ status, activist response and role 123 Table 8 Correlation of perceptions of activism and union role 125 Table 9 Correlation of perceptions of activism and employment status 125 Table 10 Correlation results (Peason’s r) 126 Table 11 Employee interviewees: employment at time of interview 126 Table 12 Freelancer interviewees: previous employment background 127 Table 13 Questionnaire respondents’ changes in employment status 128 Table 14 Questionnaire respondents’ positive or negative connotations of the term ‘activist’ 135 Table 15 Questionnaire respondents’ definition of activist 141 Table 16 Questionnaire respondents’ status, activist response and age 148 Table 17 Interviewees’ views about what gained as a result of their trade union activities 155 Table 18 Questionnaire respondents’ views about what they had gained as a result of their trade union activities 155 Table 19 Interviewees’ ‘networking’ and ‘friendships’ results combined 169 vi Table 20 Questionnaire respondents’ ‘networking’ and ‘friendships’ results combined 169 Table 21 Questionnaire respondents’ views about what they had lost as a result of their trade union activities 180 vii Abbreviations ABS Association of Broadcasting Staffs ACT Association of Cine-Technicians ACTT Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians A&E Arts and Entertainment Division of BECTU BBC British Broadcasting Company BECTU Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union BETA Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance Cyfle (Opportunity) Welsh Television Training Company ENG Electronic News Gathering (ENG) ETU Electrical Trades Union FAA Film Artistes’ Association FT2 Film and Television Freelance Training FTW Transcription software GFTU General Federation of Trade Unions HR Human Resources IB Independent Broadcasting Division of BECTU IPSE Association of Independent Professionals and the Self-Employed IBA Independent Broadcasting Authority ITA Independent Television Authority ITC Independent Television Commission ITV Independent Television LPD London Production Division of BECTU MU Musicians’ Union NATTKE National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees viii NEC National Executive Committee NUJ National Union of Journalists NVivo Qualitative data analysis software ONS The Office for National Statistics PACT Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television PCG Professional Contractors Group PLI Public Liability Insurance PSC Portable Single Camera RPD Regional Production Division of BECTU S4C Sianel Pedwar Cymru – the Fourth Channel in Wales SPSS Software package for statistical analysis SSC Sector Skills Council STV Scottish Television TPB Theory of planned behaviour TSW Television South West TUC Trades Union Congress UCATT Union of Construction, Allied Trades and Technicians ULR Union Learning Representative WTW Willingness to work YMF BECTU Young Members’ Forum ix Acknowledgements I owe a debt of gratitude to a great many people who have helped me throughout my time on the Professional Doctorate. Special thanks go to Dr Cilla Ross who welcomed me onto the course; Professor Liz Charman for her support and understanding; Cathy Larne and the Student Hub for answering all my administrative queries; and my study buddy Gary Heather for the shared experience. I also thank Professor Sonia McKay and Dr Anna Paraskevopoulou for their advice, patience and forbearance. I want to acknowledge the support of the Library staff at London Metropolitan University, and in particular Jeff Howarth and James Goddard at the TUC Library for their endless patience and encouragement. Equally, I thank the Library staff, the Access Centre staff, and Ceri Roberts in the Estates office at Bangor University; and Deiniol Wyn Jones and Ian Whittaker who have kept my computer functioning throughout the process.