Being a member of the Student Union was highly unremarkable; the only benefits were a) Student discounts in many favourite high street stores b) A cheap pint c) Best curly fries around sold in the union bar. I was not party to anything political, had no affiliations to any organisations within the university and generally found the dozens of emails clogging my inbox everyday from Union representatives highly irritating. That said, had I not being so engrossed in my drama school bubble 9-5 Monday to Friday, I may well have made more of a valuable contribution during the turbulent times we went through at Queen Margaret University. As it turned out any student attempts to change anything were futile, as the upper echelons of the administration were determined to bring about the dissolution of the accredited acting course.
Well, if you happen to work in the West End the minimum wage, which stood at £381 in early 2007, has now leaped to £450 - £550 relative to the theatre size. Without Equity fighting the performers corner this would never have occurred. There is also the current problem "Never Forget" cast members are facing, with threats of wage cuts (see The Stage 25/09) they have their agents fighting for them but also have the support of Equity who are taking legal advice on behalf of their members. Ordinarily, Equity will look over any contracts you are unsure about, point out any pitfalls and advise on the best course of action. They are constantly on the look out for bad employers and will name and shame any 'blacklisted' companies and warn members. Their pension scheme is also quite unique, and a surprising reassurance in unpredictable circumstances.
This is all very good if you have contracts for Equity to look over, if you are employed in the West End or indeed if you are employed full stop. But what are the benefits to me, the lowly unemployed recent graduate? Yes, Equity have an online job shop, but so far as I'm aware most of the jobs advertised are also in most of the other reputable online websites anyway.
In days gone by an Equity card was essential, you couldn't get a job without one! But as this no longer appears to be the case, does this render the Equity membership void altogether? Growing up in a post-Thatcher era where the power of the Union can no longer bring the economy to a stand still, I have no concept of workers banding together to fight against the 'ruthless' employer. At this point in my career, I will take just about any job that pays - even if it is below Equity minimum, because I don't really have a lot of choice. Maybe that £115 can sit there for a bit longer until I'm persuaded otherwise.
Sarah,
You make your point very well and it is hard to argue with the logic of needing to prioritise your spending.
However, having seen the decline of Trades Union representation in this country I can only look on in envy at industries which are still represented. It's a rare privilege, the exception rather than the rule and a travesty that the ordinary worker can be so easily bulldozed aside in most circumstances relating to their common rights. The law might say one thing but employers generally do another, with impunity.
Maybe I see it with rose tinted specs on, and older hands might remind me what three day working weeks were really like, and maybe this country was brought to its knees by the power of the union. Now the common has to drop to their knees just to beg for basic rights.
Should have read before posting:
"Now the common worker has to drop to their knees just to beg for basic rights".