21 September 2021

53% of Equity members responding to a new survey say they will experience financial hardship if the government cuts the £20-a-week Universal Credit uplift. The proposed cut is due to take place officially on 6 October, although in effect many will receive their last payment with the uplift in September. It will be a devastating blow to many in a sector that has been hit badly by the pandemic.

21 September 2021

Equity has written to the Government urging Ministers to abandon the planned £20-a-week cut to Universal Credit, which is due at the end of the month, and reverse the reintroduction of the Minimum Income Floor. To add your voice and put additional pressure on the Government, email your local MP using our template letter. The letter includes new statistics based on our recent survey of members that evidences the devastating impact of these changes on creative workers.

17 September 2021

Last week (12 - 14 September) Equity and other trade unions across the country came together for the 153rd TUC Congress. The events took place online due to the pandemic and over three days a range of motions were passed setting out the TUC’s agenda for the year.

16 September 2021

Equity recently submitted written evidence to the Government’s consultation on the proposed privatisation of Channel 4. We have also responded to a separate inquiry taking place in the House of Lords, which is currently scrutinising the Government’s plans.

03 September 2021

Equity activists and allies came together last Saturday to protest changes to Stratford Circus, a thriving community arts centre in East London. These include the removal of both management and arts groups and plans to offer a youth arts service only. There would be no remit or funding for its previously broad spectrum of professional and community arts provision, which ran alongside an existing youth programme.

12 August 2021

Equity sends a wholehearted message of congratulations to our member Antonia Kinlay, who has gained a landmark legal ruling in her pregnancy discrimination case, and been awarded £11,000 by an Employment Tribunal (ET).

10 August 2021

Equity are calling for clarity from the Government on their recent announcement on European work visas and work permits. The Government announced on 4 August that nineteen EU member states will allow performers visa and work permit free short term touring work.​ While the announcement is a welcome one, more clarity is needed. General Secretary Paul W Fleming has today (10 August) written an open letter to Oliver Dowden Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport asking for further explanation on key issues affecting creatives working in the EU.

06 August 2021

"Like the Cultural Recovery Fund before it, this insurance is disconnected from the real needs of our members and the industries in which they work.”

04 August 2021

Equity’s members will be reassured that today’s announcement proves progress can be made, but their union will not be satisfied until every EU country is covered, and we’ve achieved the same progress for on-screen work too

23 July 2021

The response states that the Government intends to "introduce a duty requiring employers to prevent sexual harassment, as we believe that this will encourage employers into taking positive proactive steps to make the workplace safer for everyone."