Join our campaign for a radical improvements, to work, rest, and pay in the West End – including a 17% rise on minimum pay for performers and stage management
Equity’s members in the West End told us that pay is their number one priority ahead of negotiations with Society of London Theatre (SOLT) this spring.
And no wonder, as inflation soars, the cost-of-living spirals and the massive sacrifices of the pandemic are still being felt, our survey found that two thirds of West End members are considering leaving the industry and almost half have a second job to pay the bills.
Equity’s West End Deputies have launched our pay claim, asking every Equity member to #StandUpFor17: our claim for a 17% increase to minimum rates on the Equity/SOLT Agreement.
The claim’s other top priorities are:
- A five day rehearsal week, and a rise to 34 days holiday minimum for all
- An increase of over 33% on swing payments, and a rise of over 100% on understudy and covering rates
As well as:
- A rise in the cap on incapacity salary to triple the minimum
- Increases to relocation allowance
- An additional 1 week to sick pay period
- A limit on holiday embargos
Read the full claimThe UK’s renowned live entertainment sector, which is worth over £1bn to our economy*, is at risk of losing its skilled workforce. Now is our chance to make sure our members stay in the West End and get paid what you deserve as skilled professionals on an internationally renowned theatrical landscape. Stand with us.
In the lead up to the negotiations in the next few weeks, Equity officials will be visiting workplaces to discuss the claim and how you can get involved!
Support the claim by sharing with us on social media your experiences and why you need a pay increase using hashtag #StandUpFor17.
If you’re interested in helping the campaign by speaking to journalists about your experience of the West End, contact ssoh@equity.org.uk.
Keep an eye on your emails: As the negotiations get underway your Campaign Group will communicate updates via Deps and with you directly.
Stand Up for Seventeen is part of our Work, Rest and Pay Campaign which is set on substantively improving pay, work/life balance provisions and terms & conditions for members.
* The most up to date figures from UK Theatre and SOLT show that theatres in London and across the UK attracted more than 34m visitors in 2018, generating ticket revenues of £1.28bn.