The Stage

Postal blunder stalls backstage Sunday working hours ballot

Published Tuesday 18 January 2005 at 14:25 by Ruth Gillespie

Bectu officials have been forced to abandon a vote that could give technical staff the option of working on Sundays for double time after members failed to receive the necessary ballot papers by post.

The Society of London Theatre and Bectu had put the deal, which also includes a pay increase of 5.5% and improvements in maternity, paternity and adoption leave entitlements, to their individual members and ballot papers were originally due to be returned by January 17. However, “postal problems” meant that scores of members did not receive the documents in time to cast their vote and officials are now planning a re-run, which will close on February 5.

Bectu supervisory official Willy Donaghy said: “I would love to know what happened. We all know the postal service in the UK isn’t everything it could be. Unfortunately our ballot fell victim to it this time. We had to make sure that everybody had an opportunity to vote and hopefully it won’t go wrong again this time.”

Donaghy added that the postponement would give SOLT an opportunity to clarify questions raised by Bectu members over the Sunday performances before voting recommenced.

Both Equity and the Musicians’ Union have blanket agreements permitting Sunday opening, although Equity’s is a side agreement and the union is pressing to bring it into the main contract. Bectu negotiators did not feel that until now they had been offered an acceptable package. Sources said SOLT put this deal forward after an emergency session when it looked like discussions had stalled again.