Action over time off at RSC

Members at the Royal Shakepeare Company's Barbican theatre are due to start a work-to-rule.

Read strike instruction

The action, supported by 95% of members voting in a postal ballot, is aimed at re-opening talks on statutory time off, due under the European Working Time Directive.

Workers who are required to take breaks of less than 11 hours between turns of duty, or work more than six days without a day off, are entitled to "compensatory rest" according to the Directive.

A disagreement last year over the RSC's practice of scheduling this time off on days which would have been off duty anyway led to a dispute and an industrial action ballot last December.

BECTU has now notified the company that, from January 17, members will be insisting on 11 hour breaks between turns of duty, and at least one day off in 7 days, or two days off in 14, in line with the Working Time Directive.

Letter to Barbican RSC members with industrial action instruction

09 January 2001

TO: ALL BECTU MEMBERS AT RSC BARBICAN

Dear Colleague

RE: WORKING TIME REGULATIONS DISPUTE

By now you are probably aware that 95% of members voting in the above dispute have voted in favour of industrial action. The dispute concerns the allocation of compensatory rest which you are entitled to when you breach your statutory rest periods. These are your entitlements to an 11-hour rest period between turns of duty and to 1 day off in 7, or 2 days off in 14.

This letter serves as a formal instruction to all BECTU members who were balloted. The instruction is that, with effect from 17th January 2000, you must ensure that you take an 11-hour break after you finish a day's work, and also you must ensure that you do not work on either 1 day per 7, or on 2 days per 14. If you are in any doubt about this instruction please contact your local representative at the Barbican.For the duration of this industrial action, you should otherwise work normally.

If any member is subject to any intimidation or victimisation as a consequence of this action, they should report it to me immediately.

It is worthwhile to remember that this dispute has been brought about by the negative attitude of the company and that we all need to be disciplined in order to force the company to enter into constructive negotiations on this matter, and in the future.

As discussed at the House Meeting, you will be advised of any developments. I take this opportunity to thank everyone for the display of unity that has been shown at the Barbican and hope that this will be maintained throughout the dispute.

Best wishes,
Yours sincerely

WILLY DONAGHY
Supervisory Official

10 January 2001