Landmark agreement

The national agreement covering members working in theatres around the country now incorporates the Working Time Regulations and a 3.3% pay increase.

After months of negotiations between BECTU and the Theatrical Management Association (TMA) the agreement was finalised after a conciliation meeting at ACAS.

All workers will now work no more than a 48 hour week averaged over 52 weeks. There is now an entitlement to 11 hour breaks between turns of work - if this break cannot be give because of operational reasons, compensatory rest, equivalent to the period of rest not taken, shall be given within two weeks.

Among other provisions members will be entitled to a break of 24 hours in each seven day period, which may include the 11 hour break during a change of production in a theatre. If such breaks cannot be given for operational reasons compensatory rest shall be given within two months.