Equity President Lynda Rooke received cheers and applause when she announced she is serving a new two-year term as President in her tubthumping speech to open Equity Conference 2026 in the historic Durham Miners Association building at Redhills, Durham.
Riffing off the trade union history of the venue, Lynda said: “It is absolutely remarkable that in 2026, those who actually do the creative jobs, who work on the coal face of the cultural sector, the vast majority of whom are freelance, who work long hours often away from home, still don’t enjoy the true fruits of their labour.”
Speaking to the aftermath of recent elections in Scotland, Wales and many English local authorities, Lynda said she was proud that Equity Council approved a policy that the union did not share platforms or otherwise engage with the Far Right, “because the policies they identify with are incompatible with Equity’s objectives as a trade union and in advancing workers’ rights.”
Explaining some of the industrial reasons behind the decision, Lynda said, “Our drag artists have suffered threats and physical attacks by the Far Right for just doing their job, and they continue to suffer harassment leaving their place of work late at night. Any arts funding that exists would/will almost certainly disappear, yes, our industry would/will be high up the list for further cuts.”
We must be resolute in our condemnation of what the Far Right stand for
Lynda Rooke, Equity President
Lynda warned of Far Right attacks to trade unions, calling it an “existential threat”. She continued: “Whilst we are non-party political, we are a trade union and that in itself makes us political and in that context we must be resolute in our condemnation of what the Far Right stand for.”
Returning to conference’s host city, Lynda announced that performers at this year’s Durham Pride will be working “under the certainty of an Equity agreement” and that despite funding being cut by the Reform Council, the event was going ahead.
Other achievements in the region include an Equity agreement covering stage management at Opera North for the first time, and a high-profile campaign aimed at saving Halifax’s Square Chapel Arts Centre. Another recent win involved dancers at Northern Ballet brought back from the brink of balloting for industrial action following a dispute with the company management over working hours, being called in for wigs and not being paid for this time.
Wins for holiday pay at Scottish Opera, a 99% yes vote in last year’s Pact AI ballot, the current ballot of West End workers, and a focus on holiday camps were among the highlights of the past year that Lynda ran through for delegates, while plugging the upcoming EquityFest which will take place in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland in June. And delegates applauded Lynda’s assertion that “Spotlight, is still widely and deeply felt by the membership and the Officers remain firm in their commitment to challenge this tax on hope.”
Thanking the union activists and wishing delegates a productive conference, Lynda quoted Picasso: ‘Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life’, commenting “and how true that is.”
