Bectu launches good practice guide for UK touring productions
Bectu has launched its ‘Guide to good practice on touring productions’, setting out good practice among producers who tour theatre productions to venues across the UK*.
The guide has been compiled in consultation with Bectu members and applies to individuals in all posts and grades (other than those recognised by Equity or the Musicians Union), covering roles in lighting, sound, wardrobe, wigs, props, puppetry, chaperones, automation, and stage.
Bectu currently negotiates two collective agreements that cover the minimum terms and conditions for members working in theatres that are either members of Society of London Theatres (SOLT) members or UK Theatres (UKT).
However, staff employed on touring productions have been increasingly employed on buyout contracts, where additional payments such as overtime, Sunday working, and in costume are effectively ‘bought out’ and included in the rate offered. While some of these contracts are underpinned by the collective agreements, others are often vague and a mix of Bectu agreements and those of other entertainment unions.
Moving forward, Bectu members working on theatre tours need an agreement that specifically addresses their terms and conditions. This guide is an important step in achieving that goal.
The guide is based on the current UKT/Bectu Agreement minimum terms and includes guidance on contracts, working time regulations, pensions, holidays and allowances, among others. It also includes a template offer letter and contract, so that members can have confidence they are being appropriately engaged.
In future, Bectu hopes to use the guide as a basis from which to negotiate basic terms with individual employers that they agree to uphold and to work with employers to establish minimum terms of agreement across the UK.
The guide is primarily aimed at PAYE staff on contracts, but the same principles can apply to self-employed freelancers, fee-based or daily rate staff who invoice the employer direct.
Bectu Assistant National Secretary Helen Ryan said:
“This new guide is an important step forward in improving the terms and conditions under which UK theatre touring professionals are engaged.
“Both members and employers can use the guide to ensure they are up to date with current practice and standards across touring productions, and members can use it to help negotiate the best contract for themselves straight away.
“We hope that producers will endorse this guidance and offer contracts in line with the guide, to help create fairer, more transparent working environments and terms for everyone engaged in touring productions.”
Bectu’s Theatre Touring Branch representative Christian Clark said:
“We’re really proud to launch this new guidance, which represents a lot of work from Bectu members and the Theatre Touring Branch.
“Importantly, this is a ‘living document’ and we will be adjusting and refining it as trends across the industry become clearer and as better examples of good practice evolve into standard practice, so that we can continue to support our members and implement good practice consistently across the touring industry.”
*The guidance excludes London venues that are members of SOLT.