Responding to the Secretary of State for Culture, Lisa Nandy MP’s keynote speech to Labour Party conference, Equity has called on the government to “be on the side of organised labour” and to support the workforce by backing collective bargaining in the arts.
“Today’s speech, comes during a conference where Ministers have pro-actively met with our union to understand our issues. It’s a positive shift in tone after a year of slow progress in an industry which needs a significant change in government direction after 15 years of austerity and an absence of joined up government strategy.
Paul W Fleming, Equity General Secretary
Sitting in the front row as a guest of the Ministerial team, Equity listened to the Culture Secretary as she announced a new UK Town of Culture status, following the success of the City of Culture category. Stating the government recognises that “talent is everywhere, opportunity is not”, the Secretary of State announced a new £150million regional investment fund for film, tv, music and more, saying “real change comes from the ground up.”
Paul W Fleming, Equity general secretary, said: “We agree with the Culture Secretary that real change comes from the ground up and that’s why our members expect a Labour government to be on the side of organised labour. Equity’s tv and film negotiations are reaching a climax, and we’re beginning the hard work of winning for our members across the major theatre agreements. We’re looking to the Secretary of State to support collective bargaining, a workforce-centred growth strategy, and to support us in taking on venture capital from big tech AI to US owned casting platforms.
“Today’s speech, comes during a conference where Ministers have pro-actively met with our union to understand our issues. It’s a positive shift in tone after a year of slow progress in an industry which needs a significant change in government direction after 15 years of austerity and an absence of joined up government strategy. The current Arts Council England Review and upcoming BBC Charter renewal represent an unprecedented opportunity to put our industries in the driving seat of good growth across the UK.
“We’re looking forward to meeting the Culture Secretary in the coming month to put these warm words into serious action: closing loopholes exploited by casting platforms, delivering tax and social security systems which work for freelance artists, and ensuring the new Freelance Champion puts unions at the heart of their work.”
Equity is attending Labour Party conference and taking the opportunity to meet ministers, politicians, industry representatives as well as speaking on the fringe programme.
