Culture sector employers must match Government support with commitment to Fair Work practices

August 18th 2020

Culture sector employers must match Government support with commitment to Fair Work practices

August 18th 2020

Ahead of a key meeting between creative sector unions and Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Fair Work and Culture Fiona Hyslop on 18th August, the STUC has called for stringent monitoring to ensure employers in the creative sector use support funds to maximise ongoing employment and guarantees of Fair Work. Affiliated unions have examples of firms cutting staff unnecessarily, and of big Scottish Independent production companies have introducing clauses which allow them to lay staff off for three weeks with no pay if the production is affected by Covid 19.

STUC General Secretary Rozanne Foyer said:

“We have welcomed the support for the creative sector from both the UK and Scottish Governments which we fought hard to achieve. Every penny and more of the £110 million is required to keep the creative sector afloat. However, it is essential that the funding is worker-centred and used to support job retention. Spending must be strictly monitored to ensure Fair Work outcomes are achieved. Creative workers have been at the sharp end of this crisis. Unions successfully argued for additional support for some who fell through net of the Government support schemes, but many are still in dire straits.

“All funding provided must strictly adhere to the terms of the STUC/Scottish Government Fair Work agreements. This means no zero hours contracts and no jobs paid below the Real Living Wage. Creative Scotland and other funding bodies should make Fair Work a condition of all grants.

“We are concerned at reports that some theatres and other venues are planning to ‘stash the cash’ rather than prevent redundancies. This would be totally unacceptable and we will support culture unions in resisting this wherever it occurs.”

ENDS

For further details: Dave Moxham 07891 026870

Notes Details of companies referred to in this release can be made available to journalists on request