Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Broadcasting and Entertainment Trades Alliance (BETA) was a short-lived British
entertainment
trade union
. It was founded in 1984 with the merger of the Association of Broadcasting Staff
and the National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees
.
The union appointed two General Secretaries, Tony Hearn
and John Wilson; Wilson standing down in 1987.
In 1991, BETA merged with the Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians
to form the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
entertainment
Entertainment
Entertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
. It was founded in 1984 with the merger of the Association of Broadcasting Staff
Association of Broadcasting Staff
The Association of Broadcasting and Allied Staffs was a British broadcasting trade union.The organisation was founded in 1945 with the merger of the BBC Staff Association and the Association of BBC Engineers to form the BBC Staff Association...
and the National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees
National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees
The National Association of Theatrical Television and Kine Employees was an entertainment trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded in the aftermath of a strike at the Adelphi Theatre in London in 1890, as the United Kingdom Theatrical and Music Hall Operatives' Union...
.
The union appointed two General Secretaries, Tony Hearn
Tony Hearn
Tony Hearn was a British trade unionist.Hearn began working for the Association of Broadcasting Staff as Assistant to the General Secretary, Leslie Littlewood in the 1960s. He then moved up through the ranks, becoming one of the Assistant General Secretaries, and eventually General Secretary in...
and John Wilson; Wilson standing down in 1987.
In 1991, BETA merged with the Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians
Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians
The Association of Cinematograph Television and Allied Technicians was a trade union in the United Kingdom.The union was founded by technicians at the Gaumont British Studios in 1933 as the Association of Cinematograph Technicians...
to form the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union
The Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom. It has around 26,500 members who work in broadcasting, film, theatre, entertainment, leisure and interactive media....
.