Equity’s West End deal

Equity has settled with the Society of London Theatres in a deal backed by 96% of its theatre members and a vote of two-to-one among musicals performers. The deal has take two years to draw up and the two sides have been in negotiation over its terms for the last 18 months. “It has been a massive piece of work,” said assistant general secretary for live performance Stephen Spence. “The result means significant increases in minimum rates of pay, effectively ending low pay minimums in the West End. Our members have been magnificent in this campaign.”

The four-year deal is directly linked to inflation and based on new minima agreed according to theatre size. The smallest theatres will pay a minimum of £450 a week while the largest will pay a minimum of £550 a week. New minima have been set for a range of performance types, and for Sunday working too.