Regional theatre vote

BECTU's regional theatre members are voting on new minimum pay proposals.

The offer is the result of negotiations with the TMA (Theatrical Management Association) following the survey carried by BECTU earlier this year highlighting low pay in the theatre.

The negotiations have yielded proposals from the TMA of staged increases between 6.1% and 9.6% covering an 18 month period commencing 1 October 2002.

The proposals are now being considered by BECTU regional theatre members in a consultative ballot which closes on 18 October 2002.

The offer comes after the union has been highlighting low pay as the biggest problem in the arts and entertainment industry and in the theatre industry in particular.

The proposals to improve the minimum pay rates contained within the BECTU/TMA Agreement are aimed at the lowest paid staff who stand to receive increases of almost 10%.

Although the offer is a significant acknowledgement that low pay has to be addressed the union views increases of this magnitude as being only the start of a wider campaign which has already yielded significant increases for West End theatre workers in London.