The Stage

Hamilton says ‘freeloaders’ should be named and shamed

Published Tuesday 29 May 2007 at 16:20 by Matthew Hemley

Vice president Graham Hamilton has hit out at non-members working on contracts negotiated by the union, saying they should be “named and shamed”.

Hamilton said more should be done to combat those who benefit from its efforts to secure the best terms of employment and described them as “freeloaders”.

Addressing the Annual Representative Conference he said: “Everyone is here because they care about Equity and their fellow professionals. But there are those who don’t care - those who take all the advantage of our contracts and who pay nothing - the freeloaders.

“I don’t think we should be frightened to use that word because that is what they are.

“I believe it is time they - stars and supporting players alike - were named and shamed.”

General secretary Christine Payne urged members to accept that non-members will work in the industry, claiming nothing can be done to stop it.

She said: “I believe we need to agree that if non-members do work on Equity contracts negotiated by this union and paid for by our members, then we must try and persuade them to join us.

“Freeloaders or not, we have to welcome these people into the union.”