West End theatre workers to strike
BECTU members have voted to take industrial action over low pay.
Backstage, ticketing, and box office members employed in London's West End yesterday called unanimously for a strike ballot.
After long negotiations with the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) - including an eight hour session at ACAS - the employers increased their original offer from 1.6% to 3.25%.
However they withdrew their original undertaking to backdate the award to the anniversary date of 18 November 2001 and insisted that any new pay deal commence from 28 January 2002. This reduces the value of the award to 2.7%.
BECTU theatres organiser Mark David-Gray said "The employers' response to the union's powerful claim to tackle structural low pay is disappointing. They offer nothing more than a forum for discussing the issue - plus flexible working.
"This is a double edged sword. The current agreement already allows for flexible working but it has to be paid for at overtime rates. We are concerned that the employers may try to fund any pay increase from savings made on the total wage bill by cutting additional payments.
"Union members are determined to see an end to low pay without sacrificing hard won benefits".
West End theatre workers earn on average £6.33 an hour. The revised SOLT offer works out at an average of £6.54. This would leave seven out of ten grades of theatre workers below this figure.
The employers have refused to take account of the union evidence - based on the Council of Europe decency threshold - which shows that West End theatre workers earn far below the £7.39 hourly rate. This figure - based on 68% of average earnings - is the benchmark for the provision of basic household needs.
SOLT plead poverty. But ticket prices rose 2000 by 11.16%. (Three times the cost-of-living increase BECTU members got.) 2001 attendances and revenues, despite 11 September, look set to match or exceed 2000 - which was the fourth best year on record.
According to SOLT's own figures, box office takings have risen every year for fourteen years - from £100million in 1986 to £300million last year.