RSC recognition won

BECTU has won collective bargaining rights for Royal Shakespeare Company stage, front of house and hire wardrobe departments.

After a statutory ballot of the workers, the Central Arbitration Committee has said that RSC management must negotiate with the union over pay, hours and holidays.

To pass the statutory tests, over 40 percent of the "bargaining unit" must vote in favour of recognition - BECTU received 44 percent support.

BECTU has a meeting at 1300 on Friday 20 April in the Ashcroft Room and encourages all workers in the newly recognised area to come along, find out more about the union and talk about the next steps.

The union is already recognised for five other sections of the company and is meeting RSC management on the same day to discuss the 2007 pay award.

National Official Anna Murray said: "This great vote in favour endorses everything BECTU has been saying to RSC management.

"People want to negotiate their terms through the union and the extra protection at work that a recognised union gives them.

"Reps have done brilliantly to keep up their enthusiasm during a year of management stalling.

"They are looking forward to putting recognition into practice and we'll be inviting everyone to join the union so they can be fully involved in the negotiating process".

The union and management now have 30 days in which to draw up a negotiating procedure following the ballot result.