BECTU wins theatre pay dispute

West End theatre members have voted to accept a pay rise worth 11.3% on average.

In a ballot of BECTU members thoughout London's commercial theatreland, 71% voted in favour of the offer, which includes significant improvements in holiday pay.

Members are now set for a further pay rise on October 2002, worth 4%, or inflation plus 1%, whichever is greater.

The two-stage offer put to members was tabled by employers, the Society of West End Theatres, in response to an earlier ballot in which 96% of union members in the sector had voted in favour of industrial action.

"This is a significant first step in the union's campaign to end low pay among theatre workers", said BECTU organiser Mark David-Gray.

"West End theatres make millions every year while our members struggle with the cost of living in London every day".

Originally the employers had tabled a pay rise of only 1.6% in November 2001, prompting a determined campaign by BECTU to fight low pay in the West End.

Since then the union's membership in theatreland has increased by more than 30%.

The first part of the pay offer means an increase in rates of 50p per hour for workers on grades 1-7, and £1 an hour for those on grades 8-10, backdated to 11 February 2002.