UNIONS
BECTU
Who: Represents over 40,000 staff, contract and freelance workers in the media and entertainment industries.
What: “As a trade union, we are passionate about all the key issues that affect our members.”
Covid Specific Info: “This page brings together all our advice on coronavirus. Do check back here on a regular basis as it will be updated each week as new information emerges.
EQUITY
Who: Represents 47,000 performers and creative practitioners. Actors, singers, dancers, designers, directors, stage managers, puppeteers, comedians, voice artists, and variety performers working on stage, TV, catwalk, film, recording studios, night clubs and circus tents.
What: “Equity brings together entertainment professionals and ensures their demands are heard: whether these are for decent pay, better health and safety regulations, or more opportunities for all – regardless of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, disability or class.
Even when our members perform solo, they are not alone. They are always part of the Equity community.”
Covid Specific Info: “Equity will continue to update its members on issues regarding coronavirus, please follow our social media channels and check the website regularly.”
INDUSTRIAL WORKERS OF THE WORLD
Who: “We are people of diverse races, genders and ages, from every area and country. We have diverse backgrounds and a multitude of different skills, but we have the same goal—to win better conditions at work, and a fairer world tomorrow.
Many of us work on a casual or part-time basis and many of us are on very low wages. Many of us are women, and are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It is from this diversity that we gain strength.”
What: “The IWW is a revolutionary global union, fighting for better conditions today and economic democracy tomorrow. By training our members in powerful organising methods, direct-action and direct-democracy, we put power in the hands of workers.
We believe that ordinary people are best placed to lead and create change, both at work and in society. We put our members in charge, training each and every one to build and lead their workplace unions, organise their own campaigns and take the action that wins.
We’re an active and fighting union. We know solidarity is strength, and we prove it by looking after each other. We provide advice and representation when you have problems at work, but we’re much more than that.”
MUSICIAN’S UNION
Who: Represents over 32,000 musicians working right across the music industry
What: “As well as negotiating on behalf of musicians with all the major employers in the industry; we provide advice, services and assistance tailored to each individual member.
We are behind every musician – whether you are full time, part time, self-employed or a student musician.”
Covid Specific Info: “Find advice and read the latest news on Coronavirus for musicians”
UNITED VOICES OF THE WORLD
www.uvwunion.org.uk/design-culture-workers
Who: “UVW is a members-led, campaigning trade union which supports and empowers the most vulnerable groups of precarious, low-paid and predominantly migrant workers in the UK”
What: “We campaign for all members to receive at least the London Living Wage (£10.75 per hour as of Nov. 2019), contractual sick pay and other rights, dignified and safe conditions, and general respect. We also challenge outsourcing itself, which creates two-tier workforces in order to slash wage bills and deny important rights.
We were the first union in the UK to beat outsourcing.”
Theatre Specific: “Workers in the design and cultural sectors are conning together to organise for our collective rights. Join us!
UVW’s Designers + Cultural Workers (UVW-DCW) is a cross-sector trade union organising isolated and groups of workers across the creative industries.”
THE WRITERS’ GUILD OF GREAT BRITAIN
Who: Represents professional writers in TV, film, theatre, radio, books, comedy, poetry, animation and videogames. Also includes emerging and aspiring writers.
What: “We lobby and campaign on behalf of writers, to ensure their voices are heard in a rapidly changing digital landscape.
We offer a range of benefits to our members, including free training, contract vetting, a pension scheme, Welfare Fund, entry to our Find A Writer directory, a weekly ebulletin, plus member-only events and discounts.”
Covid Specific Info: “Covid-19 advice for WGGB members”