Bring back annual pay negotiations

West End theatre members want a return to annual pay negotiations, better job security and action on bullying.

These are some of the main findings of a comprehensive survey of BECTU West End theatre members undertaken as a prelude to forthcoming pay and conditions negotiations.

The current pay and conditions agreement with SOLT (Society of London Theatres), about to expire, is a three year deal under which members received annual pay increases of RPI +0.5%. However this has proved unpopular according to the members survey in which 76% said they would prefer the union negotiate pay annually.

The upcoming negotiations will also provide an opportunity to rewrite the SOLT-BECTU agreement to remove ambiguities - the survey revealed that 56% of those responding found the current agreement difficult to use.

In the survey rates of pay came top of the list of members' concerns, with over 90% complaining about low rates of pay and the expense of living and working in London.

A worrying 51% of respondents said they experienced harassment or bullying at work; and 85% cited health and safety as one of the most important issues facing them.

Job security was also highly placed at 72%, and 55% thought it could be improved by providing a pension scheme. BECTU is currently working on ways to address the pension issue and intends to take full advantage of forthcoming stakeholder pension legislation.

More than half the respondents were concerned about long hours, despite the protection offered to them by the introduction of Working Time Regulations.

Opposition to Sunday theatre opening featured in almost every survey form returned. Many members still feel that time spent with their family on a Sunday is sacrosanct, and this is despite recent agreements that give increased on basic rates for Sunday working.

The survey is the first stage of this year's BECTU campaign to improve terms and conditions in West End theatres.