Sunday opening part of National deal

BECTU has reached a new deal for theatre technicians at the National Theatre which provides for Sunday working.

The following joint statement has been issued today, 7 March 2008: “The National Theatre and BECTU announced today that a new deal has been agreed for Stage, Lighting and Sound technicians at the NT. The agreement, which has been reached after extensive negotiation over a number of years, will see staff receiving annual salaries instead of being paid a basic hourly rate plus overtime.”

Nick Starr, Executive Director of the National Theatre, commented: “This new deal is well worth all the time and work both sides have put into it. It leaves behind an anachronistic arrangement whereby long-serving, skilled technicians had to rely on hourly payments.

“In future, they will have salaries - and security of earnings. Financially, the deal works by finding new efficiencies, allowing us to schedule staff more flexibly according to the production needs. And for the first time, it includes arrangements for Sunday performances.”

Willy Donaghy, BECTU Supervisory Official, said today: “I am delighted that we have successfully concluded the renegotiation of the agreement for members in the stage related department.

“The new agreement will significantly increase basic pay rates and includes arrangements for working Sunday performances which adequately compensate members and include quality time off work for current and future BECTU members.”

The new agreement provides a framework for all staff in stage related departments who wish to work on Sundays to do so.

Discussions on Sunday opening are progressing with BECTU staff in other departments, as well as with Equity and the Musicians' Union.