Theatre staff turn down 2.1%

BECTU members working in regional theatres have voted against a pay offer.

The 2.1% pay offer was rejected in a ballot by 95% of members in theatres belonging to the Theatrical Management Association.

Union representatives will now meet on November 13th to discuss their next move in a series of pay talks that has been running since June this year. Managers have already been warned that members are determined to stamp out low pay in the industry.

The management's most recent offer, made in response to a claim for a minimum wage of £5.00 per hour, gave an increase of 2.1% to most staff, with the lowest-paid four grades receiving an enhanced rise of 2.5%.

An earlier offer, without the extra increase for lower-paid staff, had been rejected by the union in July.

In a letter from the TMA last month, management said that the original offer could not be significantly improved due to a drop in audience levels following the terrorist attacks in the US on September 11.

According to the TMA's industrial officer, "audiences are preferring to stay at home rather than seek entertainment", depressing box office takings, and putting pressure on wage bills.

Management's October offer included a promise of talks on the TMA's appeals and grievance procedures and new "performance rates", ranging from £14.35 to £20.50, for stage staff, firemen, and front of house staff.