The Stage

Equity referendum on tackling racist members

Published Thursday 7 April 2011 at 10:44 by Matthew Hemley

Criticism of Equity’s inaction when ballerina Simone Clarke was exposed as a member of the British National Party four years ago has prompted the union to seek a change to its rules, which could allow it to discipline or expel racist members.

Currently, Equity rule 3.2.17 guarantees the right of every member to hold and express their personal, political and other beliefs in both their private and professional capacities. As a result, the union was unable to raise the matter with Clarke, who was also an Equity deputy, when it emerged she was a member of the BNP in 2006.

Although there was no evidence at the time that Clark had behaved in a racist fashion, the union came under criticism for failing to take a stronger stance on the issue.

However, Equity is this week calling on members to vote on a proposed rule change, which would remove the right of a member to express their personal and political beliefs where there has been a breach of another existing union rule - 3.1.1.8 - which states that the union actively opposes “harassment or victimising of other persons” in relation to a number of points, including sex, race, ethnic or national origin, religion, colour and class.

Union spokesman Martin Brown said: “This sends out a clear signal to those performers, many of them minority ethnic performers, who at the time [of the Simone Clarke incident] asked why they would join a union like Equity when it won’t deal with that sort of thing. That is an absolutely fair question and this is us grappling with that. We are seeking to change the rules in a way that we hope will mean we are in a better position if something of that nature happens again.”

Changes to the union’s rules were first touted in 2007, when the Minority Ethnic Members’ Committee submitted a motion to the annual conference following Clarke’s outing as a BNP member. The motion called on the union to delete rule 3.2.17. This was rejected, with vice president Jean Rogers claiming its removal would be a “disaster to democracy and civil liberties”.

However, in 2008, the union reviewed its rules and added rule 3.1.1.8 - highlighting its opposition to prejudice, harassment and unfair discrimination.

This was followed in 2010 by the Minority Ethnic Members’ Committee bringing another motion to the annual conference, this time calling on the council to launch a referendum about changing its rule relating to members’ rights to express their beliefs both privately and professionally.

This was referred to the Equity council, which asked the union’s lawyers to draft the rule change being put to members this week. The ruling council will campaign for a yes vote.

Brown said the alteration would allow the union to expel a member based on their actions, but would not allow the union to “expel someone based solely on their membership of any organisation”.

The referendum closes on May 16, and the results will be announced at the union’s annual conference on May 22.

‘Why I’m voting no’

Dave Eager - former Equity vice president and elected member of the Variety, Light Entertainment and Circus Committee

“Equity has traditionally stood against any form of censorship and also fought to defend freedom of expression. This referendum seeks to restrict the rights of members to hold and express their personal, political and other beliefs in their private and professional capacities. I believe this flies in the face of Equity’s long-held traditions of being against censorship and of defending freedom of expression.

“In this day and age, a trade union should be forward-looking by seeking to ensure that all members should be able to express their beliefs equally, freely and fairly, provided they do not breach the law. I support and sympathise with the concerns of the Minority Ethnic Members’ Committee but there are alternatives which have not been explored to address them. They should be.

“As such, this referendum is premature and members should protect their rights and vote against the rule change. If approved, the rule change may well set Equity on course for uncharted and divisive territory. I urge members to vote against, to protect their rights in accordance with Equity’s long-held traditions of campaigning against censorship and for freedom of expression.”

‘Why I’m voting yes’

Daniel York - elected member of Equity’s Minority Ethnic Members’ Committee

“Last year, I attended the TUC Black Workers Conference. I noticed every other trade union had voted en masse to ban the BNP, but owing to Equity’s non-political bias policy I was unable to support any motion against the BNP and had to abstain from voting. I was forced to ask myself - is Equity part of the trade union movement or isn’t it?

“Let us be clear here. No plays or TV programmes will be censored if they feature racist characters [as a result of this referendum]. It has also been suggested that this referendum affects what views members hold in the privacy of their own homes. But the BNP is not a front-room hobby. It is an active political party committed to winning power by appealing to people’s innate prejudices. I feel strongly that we need to show solidarity and send a very clear message that racial intolerance and prejudice have no place in our profession.”