1999 theatre pay deals

Theatre members around the UK have endorsed an improved pay offer which will be backdated to 4 October.

The deal for regional theatres increases all minimum rates of pay by 2.5%, except for get-out rates which are increased by 2%. In a ballot of BECTU members based in regional theatres 75% voted for acceptance.

This followed the union rejecting an earlier offer from the Theatrical Management Association (TMA), representing regional theatres, of a 2.1% increase in minimum pay, reducing to 1.1% for get-out rates, earlier this year.

In London's West End, members working under the agreement with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) have had a 1.7% pay increase, introduced on 22 November.

This is an automatic rise under the terms of a three-year agreement which set out a formula of the cost of living plus 0.5%. 1999 is the last of the three year deal, and in the coming year the union will be asking members to consider what sort of agreement they want in coming years.