Bectu, the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, has written to Chancellor Rishi Sunak calling for him to amend furlough rules to support creative sector workers who now face redundancy a week before Christmas. Changes to England's Tier system for Covid closures mean many of the 'Operation Sleeping Beauty' workers who would have been earning over the Christmas period are not eligible for Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme money, as they were not employed on 30th October.
Head of Bectu, Philippa Childs, said: “Theatre workers answered the government’s call to deliver Christmas magic. When launching Operation Sleeping Beauty, Oliver Dowden said he wanted to support theatre workers, now they need the government to deliver on that promise."