Lack of comradeship

Published Monday 18 August 2008 at 17:20

The reasons I have not resumed my Equity subscription are as follows. After waiting and waiting in vain on Equity negotiating an increase in the walk-on daily rate, at least comparable with the FAA result, I realise it is not going to happen.

This is mainly due to the prevailing attitude among the majority of non-walk-on members on the council and throughout the membership, which manifests itself in illogical snobbery together with sometimes bitterness, bad manners and a total lack of trade union comradeship, as experienced by Michael Earl at last year’s London meeting.

From childhood, I have been a great fan of variety. Its performers had an empathy with the people that the thespians could never match. I experienced the latter when I served on council and alarmingly, they were prepared to contemplate a 12-hour day at £35 for walk-ons. This made me realise that the majority of the council regarded walk-ons merely as a fee-paying appendage and nothing more.

As for the walk-on committee, I have nothing but the deepest respect and admiration for their resolve and courage. I felt extremely privileged to sit alongside such outstanding trade unionists who never faltered in their desire to serve the members they represented. My only disquiet or regret was to be sat opposite Michael Earl. If anyone tortured my conscience it was Michael, in whose presence I have felt humble and unassuming at the man’s honesty and sincerity when he spoke, a man in character a way above and beyond those who abused him last year and made more of an impression on me than those Equity members past and present, who flaunt themselves before this or any government in exchange for bauble.

I wish them all the best of luck and Christine Payne too, but like New Labour, I cannot, in all honesty, renew my membership of a trade union that hasn’t the stomach or desire to fight on behalf of its walk-on members.

Dan Gilfeather

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