Pride deal ahead of Equity's Durham conference
New agreement welcomed
Equity, the trade union representing 50,000 performing artists and creatives, is holding its annual conference in Durham this weekend (May 9 to 11).
Speakers will include City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy, TUC general secretary Paul Nowak and Equity’s general secretary, Paul W. Fleming, and president, Lynda Rooke.
Already the union has made its presence felt in the city, announcing a new agreement with the organisers of Durham Pride which had its funding removed by the Reform-led county council.
Equity say the agreement sets minimum standards for pay, terms and conditions for performers who work at Durham Pride and add that it’s one of the first such agreements to be brokered by Equity.
Durham Pride’s organisers will attend the conference and take part in a Saturday night presentation celebrating the history of Pride and trade unionism in the region.
Paul W Fleming said ahead of the gathering: “Equity conference will again be a campaigning conference and we’re starting with a win – celebrating one of the UK’s first collective agreements for a Pride event, based in the City of Durham.
“The hosts of our conference venue at the Miners’ Hall (Redhills) are the Durham Miners’ Association, who fought for and funded Durham Pride when the county council pulled the plug.
“We’re excited to bring Equity delegates to the Pitman’s Parliament, an incredible place which is testament to what our movement can build when we’re accountable, aspirational, collective and industrial.”
Dominic Bascombe, Equity’s official for the North East, Yorkshire & Humber, said the agreement was recognition of the importance of union-agreed terms and conditions in workplaces with Equity members.
“The Durham Pride agreement, the Manchester Pride agreement and all of the other Pride agreements that we are going to see signed this year celebrate the equality and hard-won rights of the LGBT+ community and uphold this spirit through decent conditions for their workforce,” he said.
“It is Equity’s ambition to make union agreements the norm for Pride events across the country.”
Mel Metcalf, chair of Durham Pride UK, said: “We are really pleased that Durham is leading the way in the start of Pride agreements with Equity.
“A safe, fair and equitable working environment is what we strive for every year. This year’s Pride is set to be the biggest and best yet.”
Durham Pride is scheduled to take place on May 30 with organisers vowing to make it the best yet.