West End theatre workers have won an 11.3
per cent average pay increase plus significant improvements in holiday pay
entitlements.
More than 70 per cent of BECTU members
voted to accept the pay offer put forward by the Society of London Theatre
after a ballot of union members showed 96.3 per cent in favour of taking
industrial action.
The Society of London Theatre had
originally offered a pay increase of 1.6 per cent in November last year.
“This is a significant first step in the
union’s campaign to end low pay among theatre workers,” said BECTU theatres
organiser Mark David-Gray. “West End
theatre employers make millions every year while our members struggle with the
cost of living in London every week.”
The two-stage pay offer increases grades
one to seven by 50p per hour and grades eight to 10 by £1 per show backdated to
11 February 2002.
A further across the board increase of 4
per cent or inflation plus 1 per cent – whichever is higher – has also been agreed from 7 October 2002.
By Ben Willmott
