Almost 30 employers across Scotland’s creative industries have signed a trade union pledge to support fair work and conditions within the sector.
The ‘Fair Work for Freelancers checklist’ was devised by Equity together with the STUC (Scottish Trades Union Congress) and sister creative unions. It calls for greater pay security, clearer guidance on royalties and better access for trade unions.
The pledge has gathered momentum with almost 30 employers signing and will act as a “catalyst” for change within the industry. Organisations that have signed the pledge include Dundee Contemporary Arts, A Play, A Pie, A Pint (Glasgow Lunchtime Theatres) and the Stove Network in Dumfries. Together with our sister unions we are calling for all creative industries engagers to adopt the Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist.
Fair Work, the Scottish Government strategy for improving standards and working conditions throughout Scotland’s workplaces, is currently under review by the Scottish Government alongside a review of Creative Scotland. The STUC revealed the news of the pledge as the Government was set to announce their recommendations on how to improve fair work in Scotland and called for bold Scottish Government intervention if these employers aren’t to be undercut by bad employers.
Marlene Curran, Equity National Official - Scotland, said:
“It is encouraging so many regularly funded organisations have endorsed our Fair Work for Freelancers checklist.
“In an industry where late payments, the expectation to work for free or below industry standard is still seen as acceptable treatment of creative freelancers - sadly more needs to be done.
“With our sister unions and the STUC we are calling on all engagers within the creative industries to adopt the STUC Fair Work for Freelancers Checklist.”
Commenting, STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer said:
“It’s clear that, as the Scottish Government looks set to announce their Fair Work taskforce recommendations, both workers and an increasing number of employers value the principles of fair work within the sector.
“This is an industry that, all too often, is rife with precarity and insecure conditions. We know we can ensure workers, especially freelancers and creatives, have access to safe, secure and standardised conditions of employment.
“That’s precisely what our Fair Work checklist offers. It’s a pledge, not only from workers but for employers to place on record how much they value fair work and how they look to support creatives within the industry.
“This must now act as a catalyst for change and we would implore all employers across the sector to sign the checklist. The Scottish Government must also take real steps to ensure that Fair Work for Freelancers is the norm for all the organisations that it funds.”
