TRADE UNION ACCESS FUND
THE UPSETTERS are pioneering an innovative new scheme to put the power back in the hands of the worker.
Our Trade Union Access Fund is a percentage of the budget ring-fenced on all funded projects to go towards paying for trade union membership for those working with us. This ranges between 2-5% depending on the project, the size of the budget and the number of people involved.
The funds will be held exclusively for that purpose and won’t be used for anything else. Our artists will have the option to claim part or the whole of the membership fee to a trade union of their choice for the year.
What are trade unions?
In simplest terms, trade unions protect worker rights. A trade union is an organisation with members who are usually workers or employees. It looks after their interests at work by doing things like:
Negotiating agreements with employers on pay and conditions.
Discussing big changes like large scale redundancy.
Discussing members’ concerns with employers.
Going with members to disciplinary and grievance meetings.
Some of the biggest trade unions in the theatre industry include Equity, Broadcasting, Entertainment, Cinematograph and Theatre Union (BECTU) and the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain.
But you may also prefer to join a trade union that doesn’t specialise in the arts such as Unite the Union which is Britain’s largest trade union and covers employees across all industries and even protects the rights of those not currently employed.
Why is this important?
THE UPSETTERS wants to put power back into the hands of the workers. We do this by paying people properly to end low pay work in the industry and empower workers to understand and protect their rights.
It’s time to transform the industry.