Spence attacks ‘disgraceful’ pay

Published Tuesday 29 May 2007 at 14:20 by Alistair Smith

Assistant general secretary for theatre and variety Stephen Spence has branded the current West End minimum for actors “an absolute disgrace.”

Speaking at Equity’s Annual Representative Conference, held this year in Cardiff, Spence told members that while the union had secured improvements in minimum pay agreements for regional commercial and subsidised theatre, there was still much to do in its bid for a 44% pay hike in the commercial West End.

Putting pressure on theatre managers ahead of forthcoming pay negotiations, he said: “We have developed a claim of a £550 minimum that seeks to end the situation where there is a minimum of £381.

“It is an absolute disgrace that we have a minimum of £381 in the West End.

“We value our relationship with the managers, but it is time to tell them in a comradely and responsible way that we need a decent and living minimum wage in the West End. They need to recognise their social responsibility to ensure that our members can put bread on the table and put milk in their fridge.”

He added casts had told him they were “behind [the union] all the way” and Equity would be forced to consider its industrial capacity if it could not get managers to see its point of view.

Equity president Harry Landis also complained the £350 minimum agreed for performers outside the West End was too low.

He explained: “It is about time we fought for a fair, realistic wage and with the support of our members I am sure we will win the day.”

Describing the process for which Equity negotiated the £350 rate, he said managements had treated the figure as “some insurmountable target they could never afford”.

He added: “I told them it was a terrible reflection on them that they didn’t complain when electricity bills go up, or the phone bill rises or about the overall cost of running a theatre. But the minute the cost of performers comes up - the one item their audience pays to see - they can’t afford it.”

He said Equity had walked out of the meeting, which led to an agreement being reached.

Equity is demanding the current basic minimum pay for actors working in the West End is increased to £550, while a new second minimum rate of £650 is also introduced to cover performers who are required to work Sundays.

It is hoped that a settlement will be reached later this year, in time for the deal to be introduced early next year.