This week’s tribunal ruling that an Equity member engaged by Cambridge Shakespeare Festival was not a worker is both disappointing and contradicts a previous ruling. Responding to the ruling, Equity has released the following statement:
“The recent tribunal ruling that an Equity member engaged by Cambridge Shakespeare Festival (CSF) in 2024 was not a worker – and therefore not entitled to basic employment rights such as national minimum wage, holiday pay and sick leave – is disappointing.
"What’s more, it directly contradicts the ruling on the 2022 festival, when a similar tribunal found Equity members engaged by CSF were workers – not volunteers – due to factors such as the “significant degree of control” CSF had over performers and the number of hours worked. Equity has since gone on to win other similar claims for its members.
"This second tribunal outcome against CSF does not alter the core facts. As recently as July, CSF committed to negotiations with Equity for a union agreement that would lead to fair pay, terms and conditions for the performers they engage.
"Yet despite these assurances, public comments from CSF now contradict their previous commitment to enter ‘into discussions with Equity to ensure the Festival aligns not only with current legal requirements, but also with the highest ethical standards – so that we can continue this long-standing tradition in a way that is fair, supportive of actors, sustainable, and future-facing.’
As a trade union acting on the collective will of its members, Equity will continue to defend performers’ rights and insist on fair, lawful treatment for everyone who works in our industry."
