What are collective agreements?
A collective agreement is an agreement between workers and bosses that regulates terms and conditions of work. Collective agreements are a way for workers to negotiate collectively (through trade unions) to establish and enforce improved working conditions. Without these agreements, the only protections that workers have are statutory entitlements such as National Minimum Wage and basic health and safety legislation.
What are Equity agreements?
Equity holds a number of collective agreements throughout the entertainment industry. These are negotiated between Equity (representing workers), and either individual employers or management associations (such as UK Theatre or PACT) which represent a number of employers, engagers or producers.
We have agreements with the BBC, ITV, SKY and the Producers Alliance for Cinema and Television (Pact). We also have agreements with the major streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Disney+, and Apple+. We currently hold one collective agreement in the videogames industry – with OMUK – but are fighting to secure union contracts throughout the sector.
In the live performance sector, we have agreements with SOLT (the Society of London Theatre), UK Theatre, ITC (Independent Theatre Council). We also hold a number of house agreements with individual theatres. Sometimes, the Subsidised Theatre Agreement is referred to in contracts issued by producers who are not members of UK Theatre. They will use some – but not always all – of the minimum terms our agreement sets out.
What is a ‘minimum terms’ agreement?
All of Equity’s collective agreements are ‘minimum terms’ agreements. This means they establish a floor that no one can fall below, not a ceiling that no one can rise above.
Equity agreements do not prevent employers from paying above the negotiated minimum salaries or offering improved terms to any member of the company.
Who is covered by Equity agreements?
Different agreements establish minimum terms and conditions for different groups of workers.
In theatre, performers and stage management are generally covered by the same overall agreement, while there are separately negotiated agreements for directors, designers and choreographers.
How are agreements negotiated?
Equity agreements are negotiated for a defined period, usually two or three years. When negotiations are due to take place, Equity members who have worked on the agreement since it was last re-negotiated are consulted on priorities and invited to become involved in the negotiating process via working parties.
The final decision on whether to accept a new agreement is made by Equity members. When an offer is received from the bosses, you are balloted on any proposed changes, which can only be agreed if a majority of members are in favour.
Do Equity agreements cover non-members?
Equity agreements apply to all relevant workers regardless of whether they are a member of the union. Your employer cannot require you to disclose your trade union membership, or treat you differently based on whether or not you are a member of a trade union.
While non-members can benefit from the minimum terms negotiated by Equity, they ultimately weaken the union’s ability to improve terms and conditions. The more members we have in workplaces, the stronger position we are in to win better deals.
Non-members are not consulted on negotiating priorities and do not get to vote on any offer from the bosses.
What about sectors where Equity doesn’t have collective agreements?
Equity currently does not hold collective agreements in the video games industry, but is fighting to change this. Read about our work in this area here (link to video games pages). The union has though published guideline minimum rates for video games in lieu of a collective agreement. These are advisory from the union and have not been agreed with employers but are rates that we believe reflect the industry standard at the time. Again, these are recommended or advisory minimums.
Rates and Agreements