Solt Equity West End Agreement

We are responsible for negotiating and implementing a series of collective agreements with Equity, BECTU and The Musicians` Union. These agreements define the minimum wage, the industry conditions for the engagement of actors, the management of the stage, creators, technicians and musicians. A new agreement has been reached between SOLT and Equity to help players suspend West End productions, and is seen as the best framework for maintaining long-term job security for players and other players in these unprecedented times. The agreement was strongly supported by all parties involved and was described as the “best way forward” for the theatre industry. It covers all the prospects and contingencies of established musicals that have been going on for a long time and of plays that have only limited editions on shows that can still be opened and productions still in rehearsal after the shutdown is announced. Under the new agreement, all actors who have a contract can continue under this contract and have the opportunity to participate in rehearsals and performances with postponed dates as soon as the blockage is completed. This measure is intended to ensure that actors and performers still have a role to play after the ban on the sale of theatre in the UK was lifted. The new agreement provides the best possible framework for the long-term security of employment of performers and the resumption of the West End in these unprecedented circumstances, and is strongly supported by all parties involved as the best way forward for the sector. It covers all eventualities and perspectives, from long-running musicals to plays with limited editions, productions to open and shows still in rehearsal at the beginning of the shutdown. No union recommends a deterioration of business conditions lightly. In this case, we are doing it because we have reached the limit of the concessions that we have been able to obtain from SOLT. Their initial proposals from Equity regarding the changes they wanted to make to the agreement were far worse than the final position we are now presenting to members.

SOLT originally wanted to change the category of theatre according to the contracts issued, reduce payments over time, order liability payments by rate and include it in the high proportional minimum. What you are voting on now is the smallest set of variations SOLT needs to encourage its producers to return to work in our West End theatres. The Society of London Theatre (SOLT) and Equity managed to secure an agreement from the next players at the west end by COVID-19, which was recently extended until 31 May 2020. Our role is to represent the complex and different needs of our members in negotiations with these unions. For more information on individual chords, click on the icons below. The SOLT/Equity agreement is renegotiated every four years. The last “normal” negotiations took place in early 2019 and, on that date, each member who participated in the agreement prior to the renegotiation was involved in the priorities of our claim and then obtained a vote.