Tuesday
6th November
Whilst the Alex’s and I were at SGC sitting in on
Wind in the Willows rehearsals and organising props lists for Snow Queen we
received a visit from Jamie Briers, a representative of Equity, the world
famous Trade Union for professional performers and other creative workers in
the industry.
Equity was established in 1930 by a group of West End performers. For a long
time it was a ‘Closed Shop’ union and had quite the reputation for being an
‘Old-Boys-Club’ in that you could only become a member if you had done a
certain amount of paid work but most jobs at the time were only open to Equity
members…
Due to the growing amount of criticism and reforms in British and European law,
the Closed-Shop policy was outlawed and during the late 80s Equity dropped this
policy and it is no longer a requirement for professional actors to be members
of the union. However it is still a requirement to provide evidence of
sufficient paid work to become a full member.
Equity has now established memberships for students to aid future performers
and crew in accessing information and advice in preparation for work in the
industry.
Equity is the only UK Trade Union to represent artists from across the
entire spectrum of arts and entertainment. Nowadays membership includes actors,
singers, dancers, choreographers, stage managers, theatre directors and
designers, variety and circus artists, television and radio presenters, walk-on
and supporting artists, models, stunt performers and directors and theatre
fight directors.
As with most trade unions Equity’s main activity is to negotiate minimum terms
and conditions of employment throughout the entire world of entertainment and
endeavours to ensure these take account of social, economic and technological changes.
Recently they have taken into account advancements in technology and social
change and have begun negotiating employment agreements that cover satellite,
digital television, new media, mobisodes, internet only productions, podcasting,
etc.
Listed below are a few of the numerous benefits of becoming a member of Equity
(Ref: Equity website):
Pay and
Conditions
- Minimum terms and conditions
across the entertainment industry and guidelines for work in areas where
there are no representative bodies. Working under Equity terms is the best
protection you can have. Members must discuss with us, before signing,
contracts for any overseas work, including dance and cruises. We also
advise members working on non-Equity contracts. Full texts of Equity
contracts are available on this web site for Equity members.
Equity
Card
- Being a member makes a
positive statement about your commitment to your vocation and your place
in the industry. Your Equity card is a universally recognised symbol of
your status as a professional.
Your
Professional Name
- We reserve this as long as
it is not used by another member. Names
are crucial for the distribution of royalties and other payments and
credits and casting clarity.
Representation
- We represent members
individually or collectively in disputes with employers.
Help and
Advice
- We advise members and/or
their agents whether it be about contracts and conditions for working in
the UK or overseas or areas of the business that are new to you. Your local Equity branch can also
be of help in some matters.
Campaigns
- Successful national and
international lobbying of employers, governments and other bodies on a
wide range of issues that affect you and the industry.
Royalties
and Other Payments
- Each year Equity distributes
hundreds of thousands of pounds in payments for use of members’ work in
television and film re-runs, sales of DVDs, videos and audio recordings,
e.g. cast albums.
Contract
Enforcement
- Where it is believed that
there are outstanding royalties and/or residuals from productions made on
Equity contracts, we investigate, recover and distribute these monies. We
also monitor developments in intellectual property rights.
Legal
Support
- Free legal
advice and support in disputes over professional engagements including
contracts and personal injury claims. If we take on a case we pay the
legal fees and the member receives the full amount of any award given by
the court. To register a personal injury claim there is a 24hour free
phone. We also provide assistance with personal legal matters such as
wills, probate and conveyancing.
Bullying
Reporting Line
- If you are experiencing
bullying at work, members can let us know by calling the reporting line.
Tax and
Welfare Support
- Free advice on National
Insurance, tax, Jobseekers Allowance (JSA), welfare benefits and pensions.
If necessary we take cases on behalf of members to tribunals. Equity
Guides to tax, NI and JSA are available in print and online. We have a
strong track record of success and run a helpline two days per week on
Mondays and Thursdays.
Public
Liability Insurance (PLI)
- Full Equity members
automatically have up to £10 million in PLI. For many members this is an
essential protection for their working lives and this cover provides
unbeatable value. (Please note stage hypnotist members can get PLI but
have to contribute substantially to the premium). There is subsidised
top-up cover available for Fire Artists which costs £31.50 per year.
Equity Student members are covered for up to £2million in PLI. Equity
members can print off a personalised
Public Liability Insurance certificate from this web site.
Accident
and Backstage Insurance
- Equity members are
automatically covered for accident
and backstage insurance which operates overseas as well as in the UK
if you are usually resident in the UK. It provides support if you are
unable to work due to an accident and should not be confused with personal
injury compensation (see Legal Support).There is also extra accident
insurance for dancers which costs £10.50 per year.
Equity
Members’ Personal Pension
- The Equity
Members' Personal Pension Scheme is the only one into which theatre,
radio and TV employers pay. You need to register (free) to take out an
individual policy so you can give the number to employers.
Job
Information Service
- The Equity Job
Information Service gives up-to-date, accurate information on real,
paid work opportunities across the industry. You cannot access the service
if your Equity subscriptions are not up-to-date. To use the service you
must be logged into the website by following the link on the Members
Log in page.
Digs List
- This is held at head office
and is in the Members’ Area of www.equity.org.uk. To add to the list
please email the details to info@equity.org.uk
Publications
- The Equity Magazine is sent
directly to all members and student members and has news, features
and articles. Members also get other Equity publications, such
as the Review of the Year, Guides, Diary and standard contracts.
Website
- The site has hundreds of
pages of news, information and documents plus the, Directories and
Campaign updates. It is also a gateway to the wider industry via the Links
pages. The Members’ Area is home to the Job Information Service, detailed information,
copies of insurance policies and certificates, forums and much more. You
can also pay your subscription online if you are within 13 weeks of your
expiry date.
On line
Directories
- Members submit their details
directly via their personal page within the Members’ Area of the website
and can also edit their entries. Other online directories such as Walk on
and Supporting artists have been done in partnership with Spotlight and
can be found at www.spotlight.com.
Your
Network
- Equity is made up of
thousands of creative people from every genre, age and many cultures. Our
structures such as branches give you the opportunity to network and to
share and benefit from members’ experience and support. You can also join
in on the online forums or get involved with our Facebook, Twitter and
other social networking groups. Our highly experienced regional and
national professional staff are also available to you for advice and
support.
Careers
Advice
- Members and student members
can use our one-to-one Careers and Learning Advice Service.
Workshops
and Training
- Equity has resources on CD-ROMs
which are free for members and student members (Arts Administration,
Marketing). We support the Actors’ Centres which provide programmes of
short courses in professional development and we run workshops.
Members have helped develop workshop programmes in Wales and S.W England.
There is training support for Equity Deputies and Equity Ambassadors,
Equality Reps and members of committees and branches. We also have joint
resources with sister unions and run training as part of this www.feutraining.org.
Health and
Safety
- Equity monitors health and
safety legislation, advises the Health and Safety Executive, financially
supports the Healthier Dancer Programme and provides H & S guidelines
and advice for members. Members should always call us if you have an
accident at work and put the details in the venue’s Accident Book.
Medical
Support (BAPAM)
- Equity supports the British
Association of Performing Arts Medicine (BAPAM) which provides free advice
and clinical assessment for members and student members who need help with
any performance related medical, psychological or dental problem, Members
can also get discounts on the cost of BUPA.
Charities
- The Equity Benevolent Fund
(EBF) makes grants to members facing financial hardship and the Evelyn
Norris Trust (ENT) provides support towards rest, recuperation and
convalescence. Equity’s International Committee for Artists Freedom (ICAF)
and the International Performers Aid Trust (IPAT) help performers and
venues overseas. Members can also call on the Equity Charitable Trust for
help. www.equitycharitabletrust.org.uk.
We are grateful to those members who leave bequests to our charities in
their wills.
Discounts
- These are available to Equity
members and Student Members on a wide range of goods and services.
Union
Energy
- The TUC has set up Union
Energy to give union members a good deal on mains gas and electricity. The
agreement is with Scottish Power.
Equity
Credit Card
- Offers competitive rates for
members.
Industry Information
Service
- Agents and industry
organisations subscribe to get regular updates about Equity Agreements,
rates.
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Equity
also offers bursaries for student members.
As someone who has worked in jobs outside the normal 9-5 industries and/or that do
not have their own Trade Unions, I understand perfectly how important
it is to have specific support, representation and advice from people in the
know. Equity performs an increasingly important role in todays’
social/political climate. I for one am very interested in becoming a student
member with views to becoming a regular member once I have finished my
education.
Now if only I could decide on an ‘Artist Name’….