[UK] Negotiated agreement on pay and conditions for the West End reached

In the UK, Equity and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) have reached a negotiated agreement on pay and conditions for the West End following a period of intense talks. 

Equity members will vote on whether to accept or reject the offer in an online ballot which opened on July 13. The result is due on July 29, and Equity is reportedly recommending acceptance.  

The offer is a three-year deal, from April 2026 to April 2029. Equity members were looking for improvements in both pay and work-life balance. This offer gives significant enhancements in both areas. 

The offer provides an increase of at least 13.5 per cent to minimum rates over the period and breaks down as follows:

• Year 1:  6 per cent

• Year 2: 5 per cent

• Year 3: inflation +0.5 per cent

In addition, there are new payments for responsibilities of fight captains and social media reps, and increased stage management differentials. 

The offer reportedly provides more holiday (increasing by two days by year 3 from 28 to 30 days), more maternity, adoption and paternity paid leave, increased paid leave if injured on a show, inclusive wigs, hair and make-up provision, more accessible casting and auditions, and progress towards a 5-day week in rehearsals. 

It comes after an indicative ballot of Equity members, which saw 98 per cent they were willing to take industrial action to achieve better pay and conditions. Intense negotiations followed the ballot result, and a vastly improved offer was secured, which now covers many previously unaddressed areas, together with improvements to pay. 

Equity is recommending the new offer, so a statutory ballot for strike action is very unlikely unless members reject it. 

Around 3,000 Equity members will be entitled to vote on the offer, including performers and stage management currently working on the West End and those who have worked on the West End in the past three years (since the agreement was last negotiated). 

Source: Equity

In the UK, Equity and the Society of London Theatre (SOLT) have reached a negotiated agreement on pay and conditions for the West End following a period of intense talks. 

Equity members will vote on whether to accept or reject the offer in an online ballot which opened on July 13. The result is due on July 29, and Equity is reportedly recommending acceptance.  

The offer is a three-year deal, from April 2026 to April 2029. Equity members were looking for improvements in both pay and work-life balance. This offer gives significant enhancements in both areas. 

The offer provides an increase of at least 13.5 per cent to minimum rates over the period and breaks down as follows:

• Year 1:  6 per cent

• Year 2: 5 per cent

• Year 3: inflation +0.5 per cent

In addition, there are new payments for responsibilities of fight captains and social media reps, and increased stage management differentials. 

The offer reportedly provides more holiday (increasing by two days by year 3 from 28 to 30 days), more maternity, adoption and paternity paid leave, increased paid leave if injured on a show, inclusive wigs, hair and make-up provision, more accessible casting and auditions, and progress towards a 5-day week in rehearsals. 

It comes after an indicative ballot of Equity members, which saw 98 per cent they were willing to take industrial action to achieve better pay and conditions. Intense negotiations followed the ballot result, and a vastly improved offer was secured, which now covers many previously unaddressed areas, together with improvements to pay. 

Equity is recommending the new offer, so a statutory ballot for strike action is very unlikely unless members reject it. 

Around 3,000 Equity members will be entitled to vote on the offer, including performers and stage management currently working on the West End and those who have worked on the West End in the past three years (since the agreement was last negotiated). 

Source: Equity