West End two year claim

BECTU has made a two year pay claim covering members in London's West End theatres.

The first year of the claim is to overhaul the pay and grading structure.

The intention is that different grades get different increases to address problems with differentials, include newly recognised grades, and reduce the number of grades.

The second year is for a straight 10% increase.

The claim also includes an increase in employers pension contributions of 1% from 1 October 2006 and a further 1% from 1 October 2007.

National Official Willie Lesslie said: "The [West End theatres] negotiating team expressed a determination to win a substantial pay increase in order to make an impact on low pay which is endemic within the theatre industry in general and West End theatres in particular.

"This claim covers all BECTU members employed at 43 West End theatres and a number of ancillary organisations.

"BECTU members in the West End need to send out a clear signal to the employers that they are no longer prepared to tolerate second class pay in the 21st century".

The claim has been submitted to the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) which is the employers collective organisation covering West End theatres.

A meeting of the full-time Shops has been called to discuss rallying support for the claim and to consider any action that might be required to back up the claim.

This is to be held in the Lyric Theatre in Shaftesbury Avenue 1500 on Monday 24 July 2006. All full-time BECTU members in West End theatres are urged to attend and the meeting is to be open to full-time staff who are not currently BECTU members.