The Labour government has today published the Employment Rights Bill which, if passed, will have significant positive impacts on the lives of all Equity members, both in the performing arts and entertainment industries, and the wider economy. It marks a significant milestone on a journey led by the whole trades union movement to secure a modern framework for working people’s rights – and it’s a journey where Equity has been front and centre. 

The biggest achievement of the Bill is the repeal of anti-trades union laws brought in by the Conservative government in 2016, as well as modernising archaic rules which date from the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. Ending turnout thresholds for strike ballots, permitting workers to vote online to take action and participate in their union, are small but critical steps to help free Equity to negotiate for its members. Significant enhancements on the right of your union to access workplaces will massively strengthen the union’s current campaigns in new media like video games where our members need, and deserve, an Equity agreement.

For well over a decade, Equity has fought against low and no pay jobs in fringe theatre, alongside a dedicated but tiny band of enforcement officers who never had the teeth that they needed. It might sound technical, but a single enforcement body for key rights, that doesn’t rely on individual workers putting their head above the parapet will boost our successful rolling back of no and low pay in theatre and film.

The Bill also includes a package of key rights to help precarious workers. Equity members, especially in those in variety and light entertainment are the original gig economy, and these rights will give protections where previously there were none. Removing the lower earnings limit on sick pay will bring hundreds of Equity members on the fringe into the scope of sick pay; and where Equity agreements have provided full worker rights from day one for decades, finally all workers will get that protection in law. That means protection against being dismissed unfairly without having to work for two years with the same employer, as well as removing qualifying periods for basic rights like maternity and other rights.

The Bill does not include an end to the distinction between a ‘worker’ and an ‘employee’. Equity’s agreements broadly give employee rights to our members working as performers and stage management, and so where employee rights are strengthened, our agreements will follow suit. Equity supports Labour’s policy to remove this distinction but it’s welcome that the direct engagement with the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner, as well as ministers from across her team, is leading to serious thought as to how this change can be implemented in a way that supports Equity members’ unique tax status.

Equity will now use the weeks and months ahead to continue to work with government at every level to ensure that the Bill strengthens your rights, and your union, in our industries. We want to see the Bill include an end to the carve-out which allows casting directories like Spotlight to charge you an up-front fee, and we want to see those who work six days a week get 20% more holiday in recognition of their longer working week.