Theatres members claim 6.5%

Members working in theatres outside London have lodged their first pay claim for 5 years.

The claim presented by BECTU to the TMA is based on a demand for a 6.5% increase this year and also calls for the working week to be reduced by 2 hours, with a minimum rate of £4.25 per hour.

Training and bullying are also covered in the claim. Any increase agreed is due on 1 October.

The TMA (Theatrical Management Association) represents theatre managements across the UK outside London.

Full text of the union claim

15 June 2000


Mr Peter Morris
Industrial Officer TMA
32 Rose Street London
WC2E 9ET

Dear Peter

On behalf of the BECTU membership, and in accordance with clause 1.2 of the BECTU/TMA Agreement, please find below our pay and conditions of employment claim for 2000/01.

New Clause 1.11 Union Facilities

  • Managements shall provide union representatives with the names of new staff, and access to telephone and computer equipment which shall be used during agreed periods of time-off work for trade union duties.

Clause 1.13.1

  • We seek to introduce a new definition of permanent employees which includes full-time and part-time staff.

Clause 1.13.2

  • Change title to "Regularly Employed Staff' and amend to include all work.

Clause 1.14

  • Expand the first sentence to ensure that risk assessments establish minimum staffing levels in all areas.

Clause 1.16

  • We seek the introduction of a clause aimed at combating bullying and harassment at work, (I enclose a model policy for information).

Clause 2.3

  • Delete the excluded categories of staff to ensure that the provisions apply to all staff.

Clauses 2.3.3 and 2.3.4

  • Increase the meal expense to 1 hour's pay at the grade 1 rate.

Clause 2.7.1.1

  • Increase the holiday entitlement to 6 weeks after 10 years' service.

Clause 2.7.2

  • We seek to ensure that all holiday pay complies with the provisions of the Working Time Regulations.

Clause 2.7.2.2

  • The holiday entitlement to be in accordance with clause 2.7.1.1. Payment for holidays to be calculated using all pay received, including commission, show bonuses and extra duty payments.

Clause 2.7.2.3

  • We seek to change the name of this category of staff to "Non-Regularly Employed Staff'.

New Clause 2.7.2.3.1

  • We seek to ensure that all staff who are not deemed to be regularly employed will receive 4 weeks' paid holidays, on a pro-rata basis, payment for which is calculated at an average of all pay received including commission, show bonuses and extra duty payments.

Clause 2.8.1

  • Add a new sentence to ensure that BECTU has the ability to nominate substitute holiday dates.

Clause 2.8.3

  • Payment for a day off in lieu should reflect the hours worked on a public holiday.

Clause 2.9.3

  • We seek to amend this clause to ensure that all staff have an entitlement to sick pay, irrespective of any entitlement to SSP. Where there is no identifiable basic pay, an average week's pay shall be calculated.

Clauses 2.10 and 2.11

  • We also seek to ensure that these clauses comply with the ERA 1999 requirements.

Clause 2.10.

  • We seek to ensure that all women have an entitlement to a minimum of 18 weeks' leave, rising to 52 weeks after 1 year's service; and that women have a right to return to work on a part-time or job share basis.

Clause 2.10.2

  • Delete the requirement to return to work for at least 3 months after maternity leave. Increase the entitlement by an extra 2 weeks' full pay per category; and ensure that 50% pay is at least equivalent to statutory maternity pay.

Clause 2.10.3

  • Reduce the qualifying period to 13 weeks' service.

Clause 2.11.2

  • Increase the entitlement to 2 weeks with pay.

Clause 2.12.2

  • Amend this clause to ensure that all staff receive written particulars after 2 months.

Clause 2.15.3.1

  • Add new sentence to ensure that management shall provide, or pay for, all overnight accommodation which must be of an agreed standard.

Clause 2.19

  • We seek to amend this clause to ensure that when there are no performances due to production rehearsals, seasonal closures, maintenance or refurbishment work, or during any other dark period, that all regularly employed staff are paid their average wages for a period not exceeding 8 weeks.

Clause 2.20

  • We seek to introduce a new clause on pension provision to ensure that all managements provide, and contribute to, staff's pension schemes. (BECTU is currently finalising a stakeholder scheme which may be of interest to TMA members).

Clause 2.21

  • We seek to introduce a clause on training provision and propose a draft BECTU TMA Training Policy which is appendixed.

Clause 3

  • For all departments, we seek to reduce the basic working week to 37 hours with no loss of pay.

Clause 3.3.3.2

  • We seek to reduce the lower rate threshold to 400 seats, with the exceptions to apply in the preceding or succeeding week.

Clause 3.3.9.2

  • Delete the twice-nightly rate.

Clause 3.3.9.3

  • Delete "matinee or first evening"

Clause 3.3.9.4

  • We seek to ensure that third and subsequent performances are paid at the rate of time and a half, and at double time on Sundays and after midnight.

Clause 3.4.1.2

  • Delete the twice-nightly rate.

Clause 3.4.1.3

  • We seek to ensure that third and subsequent performances are paid at the rate of time and a half, and at double time on Sundays and after midnight.

Clause 3.4.3

  • We seek to ensure that pick-ups will be voluntary and paid at the grade 3 rate for a maximum of one hour

Clause 3.5.2

  • Double time to be paid for any time worked between the hours of 11.00 pm and 9.00 am, and for all hours worked on a Sunday.

Clause 3.6.1

  • As per clause 3.5.2 proposal.

Clause 3.8.3.2

  • Change 8.00 am to 8.30 am

Clause 4.1

  • We seek to increase the grade 4 rate of pay to £4.25 per hour. In order to maintain differentials we propose an increase of 6.5% on the other grade rates of pay.
  • We also seek to introduce a new rate of pay for experienced casual staff, technicians and departmental assistants. The rate of pay to be mid-way between the rates for grades 2 and 3.

Clause 4.2

  • Delete the twice nightly rate.
  • We also propose that all performance staff be paid at the grade 4 rate of pay for the 3� hour call.

Clause 4.3

  • Create a new grade as outlined in the proposal for clause 4.1.

Clause 4.4.1

  • Add, at the end of the sentence, "for a maximum of 40 weeks or after acquiring the necessary qualifications"

Clause 4.4.3

  • We seek the introduction of a new clause to ensure that all managements operate the new Working Family Tax Credit System.

If you require any further information, or clarification of any of the above, please contact me at my office.

I thank you for your letter of 16th May, concerning the subjects the TMA wish to discuss. I have circulated this to our negotiating committee.

The BECTU membership is keen to commence, and complete, our negotiations and I would be grateful if you would contact my office to arrange convenient dates when we can meet.

Yours sincerely

WILLY DONAGHY
Supervisory Official

19 June 2000