Guide promotes fair working practices in Scotland

16 Jun 2023

A guide aiming to help workplaces develop fair working practices in Scotland’s creative and culture sectors has been published.

Commissioned by Creative Scotland and published by Culture Radar, the Ilustrated Fair Work Guide for Employers features case study examples and illustrations to promote fair work practices for employers.

The guide, which includes support for both employees and freelancers, outlines five dimensions of Fair Work: effective voice, opportunity, fulfilment, respect and security.

It has been developed following the implementation of the Scottish Government’s Fair Work Action Plan 2021, which set the goal of Scotland becoming a leading Fair Work Nation by 2025, through developing progressive workplace policies including the adoption of a Real Living Wage.

Creative Scotland Chief Executive Iain Munro said the guidance “will help to create the conditions for more meaningful and sustainable opportunities to work across, and progress through, the sector.”   

Culture Radar’s Jeanie Scott, who wrote the guide, added: “The creative and cultural sector is a complex and varied beast, with no two workplaces the same and a heavy reliance on freelance workers at all levels.

“For this reason, this short guide could never be a step-by-step tool, or a rule book for applying Fair Work across the board 

“Instead, we’ve laid out this guide with key information about Fair Work, alongside inspiring, real-life examples of what Fair Work looks like in practice in our sector now.”

Workplace guides address sexual harassment in theatre

06 Jun 2023

Two "vital" and "long-needed" guides addressing sexual harassment in the performing arts have been launched as part of efforts to support organisations and individuals working in the sector.

Published by the Federation of Scottish Theatre, the guides have been informed by the Harassment in the Performing Arts (HiPA) Working Group, an independent working group convened by the federation.

The first guide, Navigating Sexual Harassment at Work: A Guide to Support Freelancers and Individuals, hopes to help those experiencing or witnessing sexual harassment in the workplace.

The second, Tackling Sexual Harassment at Work: An Action Guide for Theatre Companies and Arts Organisations, aims to support organisations in their response to complaints of sexual harassment.

The guides' author Lisa Sangster, who was also co-chair of the HiPA working group and is a trained sexual violence support worker, said: "The new HiPA guides are an important contribution towards supporting a culture change in the sector.

"They aim to empower individuals to take action when they witness harassment, and support people experiencing it to feel reassured that they have options and deserve support."

She added: "Having resources that are easy to read, jargon free and open to all is critical in improving responses to incidents of sexual harassment.”

Equity secures pay rise for West End actors and stage managers

A view of London's West End at night
30 May 2023

Three-year deal struck by Equity and the Society of London Theatre following 'difficult and challenging' negotiations.

West End actors and stage managers to receive 16% pay rise

30 May 2023

Actors and stage managers working in the West End will receive a 16% pay rise over two years, under new rates agreed by Equity and the Society of London Theatre.

The updated SOLT/Equity Agreement for West End Theatre Artists will run from April 2023 to April 2026, covering performers and stage managers.

It agrees an increase of at least 10% to minimum rates across all pay brackets year-on-year for the period of April 3, 2023, to March 31, 2024.

For the year beginning April 1, 2024, all pay brackets will increase by around 5% of the 2023-24 rate, marking a total increase of 16% over two years.

Rates for the final year of the agreement have yet to be calculated but they are set to increase in line with the consumer price index figure published by the Office for National Statistics in February 2025, plus 0.5%, subject to a minimum increase of 2% and a maximum of 5%, The Stage reported.

Equity had initially campaigned for a 17% pay rise in the first year of the agreement, with an additional rise of 10% in the second year.

The final new agreement will see rates of pay for performers and stage managers rise in line with theatre sizes, based on an eight-show minimum week with increased rates for 12-show weeks.

Rates for workers at theatres with a capacity of 1,100 or more will rise from £757.84 per week to £880.10 by April 2024.

Rates at theatres with a capacity of 800 to 1,099 will rise from £689.37 to £800.58 and rates at theatres with up to 799 seats will rise from £620.29 to £720.36.

The agreement also includes a 33% increase to swing fees of up to £120 a week and a 12.5% increase to dance captain fees up to £135 a week.

“Given the current economic difficulties facing both SOLT and Equity members, these negotiations were always going to be difficult and challenging,” said Robert Noble, chair of the SOLT negotiating committee. 

“However, through constructive dialogue and a professional approach by all those involved in in the negotiation process, a settlement has been reached that acknowledges the commitment and support shown by Equity members during the pandemic and seeks to address, as far as is possible, the continuing economic challenge that we all continue to face.”

He added that the settlement has received “the very strong support of members of both organisations”.

Paul W. Fleming, General Secretary of Equity, said the “excellent deal” marks the start of a process that will see trials of a five-day rehearsal working week.

“Our strong, constructive, but robust industrial relations have delivered a meaningful shift in pay and conditions at a time of extraordinary pressure for bosses and workers alike,” he said.
 

Battersea Arts Centre makes redundancies in face of rising costs

The main entrance to Battersea Arts Centre
16 May 2023

Increasing costs, inflationary pressures and changes to funding have led to the National Portfolio Organisation taking 'tough decisions', including six redundancies.

City council defends Glasgow Life staff cuts

12 May 2023

Glasgow City Council’s culture leader has said a reduction in the number of staff at Glasgow Life will not affect the quality of the city’s cultural offer.

Earlier this year, the council announced the number of conservation staff at Glasgow Life, which operates council-owned cultural venues, will be reduced by 40% as part of a £1.5m cost saving effort in the museums and collections department.

The decision will mean displays and temporary exhibitions will not be changed as frequently in museums under Glasgow Life’s remit.

Staff cuts at the charity date back to 2021, following a loss of income due to pandemic-related closures.

Responding to concerns raised by fellow councillors at a council meeting on Thursday (11 May), City Convener for Culture, Sport and International Relations, Anette Christie, said the impact of the proposals had been carefully considered.

“It is recognised that this level of reduction will of course have an impact on the frequency of temporary exhibitions and display changes but these decisions have been made in response to the scale of the financial challenge that the city faces.”

Christie insisted the affected museums will retain their Glasgow Museums accreditation, which allows venues to secure revenue or capital funding.

She added the city will maintain its reputation for world-renowned collections, with the council planning development projects at the People’s Palace and the Mitchell Library.

“This city is a city of innovation and we will build on that. Our ambitions still remain great,” Christie said.

“Change is difficult but I have assured them of how important they are to the city, the role that they play and I can say with confidence they are still dedicated.”

Sick days in arts industry rise by 66% in past year

12 May 2023

Businesses in the arts and entertainment industry have seen one of the biggest rises in sick leave across the UK, research has found.

The Sick Leave Report 2023, conducted by HR firm Access People HR, analysed sickness rates from more than 2,000 businesses, finding that the average company in the arts reported 39 days lost to sick leave in 2022. This compares with an average of 24 in 2021, 28 in 2020 and 20 in 2019.

In total, the sector experienced 66.7% more days lost in the last year due to short and long-term illness. The industries that charted the highest rise in the past year were water supply, sewerage and waste management (135% rise) and accommodation and food service activities (146%).

The firm said the rise in sickness rates in the arts and entertainment industry could be a sign that attitudes have changed following the pandemic, including concerns around spreading contagious diseases to the public.

It also pointed out that there is labour shortage in the sector, with arts officers, producers, dancers, musicians and artists all on the government's list of shortage occupations.

Schools facing shortage of drama teachers, Labour claims

03 May 2023

Schools are facing shortages of specialist teachers in key areas including drama, posing a threat to children’s education, Labour has warned.

Analysis found that more than one in five drama lessons were taught by a non-expert teacher last year, The Mirror reported. 

The teaching analysis follows Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement that he plans to get all children to study maths until the age of 18, despite a shortage of specialist teachers. He has so far failed to set out how he plans to resolve the shortage. 

In a speech to the NAHT union’s annual conference on Saturday, Shadow Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson vowed to hire more teachers using money raised by ending tax breaks for private schools.

Labour wants to axe these schools’ charitable status, which exempts them from charging VAT on fees. The party estimates that the change would raise £1.7bn per year for the state education system.

“Labour will recruit thousands more teachers to ensure pupils are taught by specialist teachers in each subject, and drive higher standards in schools. We will pay for this by ending tax breaks for private schools,” the party tweeted last week.

“Staff shortages are a growing problem, extend widely across many different subject areas and are impacting education on a daily basis,” said Geoff Barton, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders.

“The expectation to have a specialist teacher at the front of every classroom is not an unreasonable one, but is not the reality for many pupils. Schools are increasingly being forced to turn to supply staff to cover for vacancies.”

This can be disruptive for students and also raises costs for schools, he added.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb said there are 24,000 more teachers working in classrooms in England than in 2010.

“Conservatives are delivering higher standards for children by recruiting and training excellent teachers, helping them to fulfil their potential and grow the economy,” he said.

But the analysis showed that ongoing shortages of specialist teachers is also affecting other subjects, including physics, French, German and maths. 

London tourist attractions could face strike action

27 Apr 2023

London attractions including Tower Bridge and the Barbican could face industrial action following a vote by City of London Corporation staff.

GMB union members working for the council have overwhelmingly voted for strike action, having rejected the Corporation’s 2022-23 pay offer.

Of those who voted, 77% said they were prepared to strike.

Anna Lee, GMB London Regional Organiser, said: “This vote for industrial action shows just how strongly our members feel and how they will continue to fight for a fair and decent pay rise.

“This is an historic vote, the first time ever that City of London Corporation staff have voted to strike over pay.

"I hope in light of this vote the Corporation will reconsider its position and get back to the negotiating table and present an offer which truly recognises the hard work, reliability and dedication of its workforce.”

Stage Directors UK to become a trade union

25 Apr 2023

Stage Directors UK is to become a recognised trade union, the membership body has announced.

The move is the culmination of a process the organisation began 18 months ago.

As a trade union, it will look after the interests of stage directors, choreographers, movement directors, fight directors and intimacy coordinators.

Since first announcing its intention to become a trade union, SDUK's membership has grown by 25%.

Last summer, more than 90% of SDUK members who took part in a vote on whether to become a trade union, voted in favour.

A statement from SDUK said: "After numerous meetings with our members, partners in the UK and abroad and a thorough application process, UK-based stage directors now have what their American colleagues have had for decades: their own trade union.

"This is a historic achievement that will not only benefit SDUK members but the entire profession.

"SDUK looks forward to working with other trade unions to build a better, more resilient UK theatre."

Glasgow arts centre cuts ties with cafe following staff protests

25 Apr 2023

The Centre for Contemporary Arts (CCA) in Glasgow has parted company with its business tenant, Saramago Cafe Bar, following a dispute by cafe staff over working conditions.

In a statement announcing the decision, CCA said the cafe would close "with immediate effect".

The move follows accusations that Saramago sacked three members of staff during their shifts on 3 March, for taking part in union-supported action against staff shortages.

Saramago's owners have strongly denied this. They say staff took part in an unannounced work stoppage in breach of their contracts, and that the union supporting the action, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), is not recognised in the UK. 

Regular demonstrations organised by the IWW have taken place outside CCA since the three staff were sacked.

CCA said it had “worked tirelessly over the past five weeks in the hope for productive conversation and a positive outcome that aligns with our organisational priority of fair work.

"We truly wish the situation could have been resolved differently.”

It continued: “We recognise the gravity of this decision, and are committed to acting in the most accountable and considerate way possible."

EXCLUSIVE: Guildhall settles legal case with acclaimed conductor

20 Apr 2023

An employment tribunal was due to consider claims relating to unfair dismissal, breach of contract and protections under whistleblowing legislation next week.

Redundancies at National Science and Media Museum

National Science and Media Museum, Bradford, with a statue of J. B. Priestley in front.
19 Apr 2023

The museum is set to close for 13 months to undergo a £6m upgrade, resulting in more than 20 front-facing staff being made redundant.

Why are disabled people asked to work for nothing?

Pull Up sharing by Delson Weeks, Blink Dance Theatre
18 Apr 2023

In a survey of disabled arts professionals, Unlimited found 87% had been asked to do something for nothing. Lucy Peters asks Jo Verrent: When will the sector stop exploiting disabled creatives and acknowledge their value?

Norwich Theatre Royal becomes a Real Living Wage employer

04 Apr 2023

As part of Norwich’s designation as a Living Wage City, Norwich Theatre, Royal has signed up to the Living Wage Foundation’s Real Living Wage scheme, awarding pay increases of at least 10% to eligible Theatre Royal and Playhouse staff.

Eligible full-time employees will receive an average pay increase of 10.3%, while variable-hour employees will see their hourly pay rise 14.7%.

The theatre’s decision to join the scheme comes amid a three-year plan, spearheaded by the city council, to significantly expand the number of employers in Norwich paying the Real Living Wage.

As of April 1, the government's National Living Wage is £10.42 per hour for workers aged 23 and over. The minimum wage for workers aged 21 and 22 is £10.18, with those aged 18 to 20 receiving £7.49 and under-18s and apprentices £5.28.

The Real Living Wage – which is calculated based on the cost of living – is higher, with participating businesses agreeing to pay any employee aged 18 and older at least £10.90 per hour, rising to £11.95 in London.

“The news that one of our key cultural institutions is to become a Real Living Wage Employer is tremendous and a significant boost to the campaign to ensure everyone across Norwich gets a decent wage,” said Norwich City Council leader Alan Waters.

Visa system needs urgent reform to ensure global standing of UK's creative industries

UK border control at Heathrow airport
04 Apr 2023

Without urgent reform there is a danger our creative industries – once the envy of the world – won’t be able to access the talent needed to thrive at a time when the sector should be booming, says Eliza Easton.

ACE faces harassment claim over employee's gender beliefs

Arts Council England logo
28 Mar 2023

Arts Council England employee claims she was 'harrassed and victimised' due to her views.

Theatre company Middle Child moves to four-day week

24 Mar 2023

Hull theatre company Middle Child is implementing a four-day week.

The company announced the move, which it says has been done to improve work-life balance for staff, alongside revealing its 2023 programme.

It becomes the latest in a line of arts organisations to announce four-day weeks. Last week, Manchester’s Contact theatre announced plans for a trial, while Flatpack Festival adopted the schedule permanently.

Middle Child is also set to pilot a new “financial access rider” scheme over the next 12 months, which will see them ask freelancers they work with what adjustments can be made around payment schedules, to make theatre more accessible to people from lower socio-economic background.

Artistic Director Paul Smith said the switch to a four-day week follows a successful pilot at the company.

“We know first-hand that the theatre industry can be a demanding and often unsustainable workplace. By moving to a four-day week, we hope to create a more sustainable and equitable workplace for everyone we work with,” he added.
 
“Today we talk the big talk, but from tomorrow we start putting our plan into action and doing everything we can to make sure everyone’s story can be told and heard, breaking down barriers to accessing theatre for all.”

EXCLUSIVE: Performing arts school 'institutionally racist', report finds

The Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts building
21 Mar 2023

A performing arts school co-founded by Sir Paul McCartney has been found to be 'institutionally racist' according to a report disclosed as part of an ongoing employment tribunal.

Staff at British Museum announce Easter strikes

21 Mar 2023

Union workers at the British Museum have announced further strike dates over the Easter holidays, as part of widespread industrial action.

Thousands of members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union will strike in April in a “significant escalation” of the ongoing dispute over pay, pensions, redundancy terms and job security.

Staff at the British Library will take two weeks of action, between 3 April and 16 April, while staff at the British Museum will strike for seven days from 6 April to 12 April.

The dates fall in the middle of the Easter holidays, when local families as well as thousands of tourists will be hoping to visit the museum, which attracts more than six million visitors annually.

The planned strike follows upheaval at the museum last month. More than 100 staff members staged a walkout on 1 February, resulting in the last-minute closure of the museum.

A further strike from 13 February to 19 February, during half term, resulted in the cancellation of scheduled activities and the disruption or closure of services including the box office and information desk.
 

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