Pay agreement reached at Birmingham Rep Theatre

A pay agreement has been reached for workers at the Birmingham Rep Theatre.

The theatre and the union for technical staff at the Rep, Bectu, say they have reached a positive pay settlement that will provide a “significant uplift” to the lowest paid.

Bectu approached culture sector employers across the Midlands with a request for a one off, unconsolidated payment to help workers with the cost of living crisis.

The resolution comes on the back of the successful Birmingham Commonwealth Games whereby Bectu, the Musicains Union and Equity, along with the TUC, secured positive pay settlements for creative workers at the Games.

Julia Layland, director of people and operations at the Birmingham Rep, said: “The Rep recognise the cost pressures on everyone at the moment and have been considering various ways to provide support and ease pressure, including circulating a cost of living support document to staff, this included considering cost of living payments.

“BECTU approached us in July 2022 to officially ask us to consider a cost of living payment and in line with our ethos of prioritising lowest paid staff we have delighted to have worked with BECTU to agree an off-cycle pay award these staff to recognise the living wage increment.

“These increases will take effect from October 2022 and we hope this goes some way to easing the cost of living pressures for some, however we still commit to our usual pay negotiations with BECTU for all levels of staff in the annual pay review in spring 23.”

Mick Corfield, Bectu Midlands national officer, said: “This is a great deal for Bectu members at the Birmingham Rep and we are delighted to endorse the package which will mean a worker on a 37.5hour contract will be £975 better off before we reach the actual anniversary pay date in April.

“The Birmingham Rep is not the only venue that we have approached during these difficult times to secure a fair settlement for Bectu members. However, I have to say that the Rep have been the most proactive and receptive to our approach.

“I would like to thank them for taking onboard our suggestions and working with us constructively to secure a great deal for our members. This shows what is achieved when employers genuinely listen to their staff and work with their unions to deliver fairness for all.”

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