Landis should be forced to withdraw from Equity re-election, insists Karlin

Published Thursday 10 July 2008 at 11:20 by Alistair Smith

Veteran actress and union activist Miriam Karlin has claimed that Harry Landis should be forced to pull out of his bid for re-election as Equity president, branding his recent criticisms of producer Bill Kenwright as “irresponsible electioneering”.

Karlin, who is best known for her role in TV series The Rag Trade and her numerous stage appearances, has been a leading figure within the union for many years and last served on the ruling council in 2002.

She claimed that Landis’ outspoken claims at Equity’s Annual Representative Conference, when he accused Kenwright of being the West End’s “worst payer”, were damaging to the union and had cost its members money after he and general secretary Christine Payne were forced to take out an advert in The Stage apologising to the producer.

Karlin said: “Harry Landis has acted in an irresponsible way and one which is totally injurious to the union. What I find extraordinary is that he has allowed his candidacy for president to stand. I would say that he should be forced to withdraw. I was incandescent with rage when I saw the full page apology in The Stage.

“My first thought was how much did this cost? Presumably there were legal costs as well. I’m so angry that the members are going to have to pay for this.”

Karlin acknowledged that she had never voted for Landis to become president - despite both having been members of the Representative Conference faction at one point.

However, she is known as an influential member of the union and her criticisms will be seen as a boost for Landis’ presidential rivals - Graham Hamilton and Nicholas Smith.

She said she felt that Landis’ decision to use his claim against Kenwright in his president’s speech at the ARC amounted to “electioneering”.

Karlin added: “You only have to say something against a management and the members will go, ‘Good on you, Harry’. To do it at a time when we are at such a crucial point in negotiations was totally irresponsible. I don’t blame Bill Kenwright one iota for wanting an apology.

“It’s irresponsible and, I’m afraid, it was electioneering. That’s what he was doing - trying to get the members on his side.

“With the exception of the BBC, the RSC and the National Theatre, I think Bill Kenwright probably employs more members than anyone else. That doesn’t mean you have to kow-tow - I’m the last person to suggest that. But this was so irresponsible. You can’t play around with members.”

Landis said that Karlin’s concerns were “one person’s point of view”.

He added: “I’ve had calls from many members - and some agents - saying ‘good luck to you’ and ‘we’re behind you’ and things like that.

“I would suggest that, as we’re in the middle of an election, the sensible thing to do would be to let the membership decide. They are the people who matter. I would say to critics like that there are two weeks left in the election process and you should put your faith, as I do, in the integrity of our membership. Their decision is all that matters and whatever that decision is, I will respect it.”