Theatre staff get 3.5% in national deal

Backstage and front-of-house staff in more than 200 theatres outside London have accepted a pay deal worth 3.5%.

The increase, which applies to the national minumum rates set out in entertainment union BECTU’s collective agreement with the Theatrical Management Association (TMA), is accompanied by a 3% increase in all other payments and allowances. And employers’ contributions to staff pensions will rise by 0.5%.

Having been backed by a two-to-one majority in a ballot of BECTU members, the award must now be put to the TMA’s own members. Once they have ratified it, the increases will apply from this month.

BECTU supervisory official Willy Donaghy said he was disappointed that this year’s pay increase is worth less than inflation. “However, it does reflect the best settlement that could be achieved by negotiation,” he added, “and where our members are covered by specific house agreements, there may be the opportunity to secure some additional monies.”