The landmark agreement with Creative Unions, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Equity, Bectu, Musicians' Union and Writers' Guild will help the Mayor deliver his manifesto commitment to ensuring people working in the cultural and creative industries earn fair pay, have good working conditions, and career opportunities.
Equity supports creative workers in the Midlands with landmark agreement.
Musicians' Union signs agreement with WMCA to support creative workers.
TUC Midlands and WMCA partnership deal.
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) announced new partnerships with national cultural bodies and creative unions with the Mayor signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with five national arts, heritage and cultural organisations and another partnership deal with five of the biggest creative industries trade unions.
Memorandum of Understanding with the Creative Unions
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Creative Unions, Equity, Trade Union Congress (TUC), Bectu, Musicians' Union and the Writers' Guild. The agreement seeks to build on the region's cultural and creative strengths with the role of the MoU is to ensure that any grant funding awarded by the WMCA carries with it a encouragement to incorporate trade union rates and other terms and conditions, and work with industry to devise artist contracts.
Mayor Richard Parker with Stephen Brown (Musicians' Union), Caroline Hemmington (Bectu), Ian Manborde (Equity) and Rob Johnston (TUC).
Commenting Ian Manborde, Equity Regional Official, said "Equity welcomes this landmark MoU with the WMCA. It will establish a benchmark for standard-setting in the use of trade union rates and terms where professional performers and creative practitioners are engaged through devolved government funding. We will seek to replicate this excellent model of good working practice across the UK. We particularly focus on the MoU's support for a thriving regional economy for performers and creative workers as part of the Mayor's agenda for good work and good pay"
Commenting Rob Johnston, TUC Midlands Policy and Campaigns Officer, said "This is a truly landmark agreement. Creative workers employed through the combined authority will now receive union rates. Moreover, it sends a signal to the wider industry around the pay and conditions that are expected in our region. With a focus on local employment and inclusion, this agreement will help deliver a thriving creative sector, underpinned with good jobs, here in the West Midlands. What's more, the commitment from the Mayor and the combined authority to work with unions is tremendously refreshing and something other sectors and areas could learn from".
Commenting Stephen Brown, Musicians' Union, Regional Organiser, said "The Musicians' Union is delighted to have been working with our sister creative unions, the TUC, West Midlands Combined Authority and Mayor's Office, to agree a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the engagement of musicians and other creative sector workers in the region. The great thing about it is that quite apart from ensuring minimum fees and terms for the engagement of musicians by publicly funded bodes, it helps to set a wider benchmark in the West Midlands for the fees and terms for all self-employed creative sector workers. The focus on local employment ensuring equality, diversity and inclusion as a key component for any projects commissioned, also ensures that fairness is locked in. The Musicians' Union goal is a sustainable thriving creative sector providing good jobs for musicians in this region and the MoU will be a key factor in helping to achieve this".