Ballot on temporary variations to the UK Theatres Bectu agreement

Bectu representatives are recommending that members vote to accept the proposed temporary variations to the UK Theatres (UKT) Bectu agreement.

Initially, UKT were asking for too many changes to the agreement. But following lengthy negotiations with Bectu representatives, the proposals have been moderated and Bectu is recommending that members accept the proposals.

Please bear in mind that the UKT Bectu Agreement is a minimum terms agreement. If you work in a venue that has a House Agreement with better terms for any or all of the temporary variations below, these will not be affected by the variations to the UKT Bectu Agreement.

Summary of the proposed temporary changes to the UKT Bectu agreement

• Temporary variations: The temporary COVID-19 Variation Agreement will run until 3 April 2022.
• Lay-off clause: The statutory clause to apply, but limited only to Covid-19 (or similar) as determined by any public body. Where your current contract already contains a lay-off/short time working clause, that will prevail.
• Pay: Pay rates to be maintained at current levels, although increases to NLW will apply. The first date that Bectu will be able to submit a pay claim is April 2022.
• Overtime: Terms remain the same, except where a call is extended for Covid-19 related reasons.
• Ancillary Payments: These payments have been maintained.
• Sunday Working: Sunday is to be treated as part of the normal working week in all respects until 31 October 2021. Then 0.5T payment on top until 3 April 2022. The current agreement of 2T will then prevail unless otherwise agreed.
• TV/Video/Film Payments: Bectu has ensured that variations only apply to situations that arise as a result of an instruction from a government, devolved administration or public authority. We have also ensured that subsidised seats are taken into account.
• Get Outs: Get out payments based on the number of seats put on sale. After negotiation, this includes any Covid-specific subsidised seats, including donations and local authority or National Lottery funding.
• Implementation Date: If members vote to accept, these temporary variations will come into effect from 18 January 2021.

Why Bectu is recommending a vote to accept

Under normal circumstances, Bectu would not be recommending that you accept such changes to the agreement. However, these are not normal circumstances and we believe that members will understand that some temporary variations are going to be necessary in order to help theatres get back on their feet.

Bectu reps are concerned that if the temporary variations are not accepted then it is likely that employers and producers will start to undermine the overall agreement and offer individual contracts on even less favourable terms.

More information has been sent to the members this will effect via email.