Equity (trade union)

Equity

Founded	1930
Members	38,197 (2013)[1]
Affiliation	TUC, ICTU, STUC, FEU, FIA
Key people	Malcolm Sinclair (President) Christine Payne (general secretary)
Office location	London, United Kingdom
Country	United Kingdom
Website	www.equity.org.uk

The Equity building, London.

Equity (formerly known as the British Actors' Equity Association) is the trade union for actors, stage managers and models in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1930 by a group of West End performers and, in 1967, it incorporated the Variety Artistes' Federation.

Equity was one of the last of the closed shop unions in the UK. This was criticised in 1981 by the European Court of Human Rights^[2] and made illegal in 1988, with the result that it is no longer a requirement that an entertainment professional be a member of Equity.^[3][4][5]

Equity requires its members to have unique professional names.^[6]

History

Like many other British trade unions, Equity operated a closed shop policy—it was not possible for someone to join unless they had sufficient paid work, and most jobs were reserved for Equity card holders. To allow new members to join, there were a limited number of non-card holding jobs on regional productions. Whilst working on these productions, actors held a provisional membership card, and, on completing the requisite number of weeks, could apply for full membership, and thereafter work in the West End, or on film and television.

In 1976, Equity introduced a policy of refusing to sell programmes to the South African Broadcasting Corporation, an action that led to a virtual blackout of British television in apartheid South Africa.

As a result of reforms of trade unions in the 1980s by Margaret Thatcher's Conservative government, and the introduction of European legislation, closed shop unions became illegal in the UK, and Equity discontinued this policy. However, to join, evidence must be provided of sufficient paid professional work.^[7]

General secretaries

• 1930–1931: Alfred M. Wall
• 1931–1934: Alfred Wall
• 1935: Geoffrey Robinson (Heap)
• 1935–1940: C. B. Purdom^[8]
• 1940–1946: Llewellyn Rees^[8]
• 1946–1958: Gordon Sandison^[8]
• 1958–1973: Gerald Croasdell^[8]
• 1973–1991: Peter Plouviez^[8]
• 1991–2005: Ian McGarry^[8]
• 2005–present (as of 2013): Christine Payne^[8][9]

Presidents

• 1932–1940: Godfrey Seymour Tearle^[8]
• 1940–1945: Lewis Thomas Casson^[8]
• 1946–1948: Beatrix Lehmann^[8]
• 1948–1949: Leslie Banks^[8]
• 1949–1969: Felix Aylmer^[8]
• 1969–1973: Ernest Clark^[8]
• 1973–1975: André Morell^[8]
• 1975–1978: Hugh Manning^[8]
• 1978–1982: John Barron^[8]
• 1982–1984: Hugh Manning^[8]
• 1984–1986: Derek Bond^[8]
• 1986–1992: Nigel Davenport^[8]
• 1992–1994: Jeffry Wickham^[8]
• 1994–2002: Frederick Pyne^[8]
• 2002–2008: Harry Landis^[8][10]
• 2008–2010: Graham Hamilton^[10]
• 2010–present (as of 2013): Malcolm Sinclair^[11][12][13]

See also

• United States:
  • Actors' Equity Association
  • American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
  • Screen Actors Guild

References

1. Equity (Incorporating the Variety Artistes' Federation): annual returns. UK Certification Officer.
2. "Closed Shop". TalkTalk. 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
3. Barnett, Laura (15 September 2010). "Equity boss Malcolm Sinclair answers your questions". The Guardian (London). Theatre Blog. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
4. "Equity in the 21st Century". Nerve (2). Summer 2003. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
5. "More union trouble for Hurley". BBC News. 20 October 2000. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
6. "Your professional name". Equity. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
7. "How can I join?". Equity. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
8. "Equity history" (PDF). Equity. 30 March 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
9. "Branch AGM – West of England Variety Branch". Events during March 2013. Equity. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
10. Smith, Alistair (22 July 2008). "Hamilton elected Equity president". The Stage. London. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
11. Hemley, Matthew (15 July 2010). "Malcolm Sinclair becomes Equity president". The Stage (London). Retrieved 29 June 2013.
12. "Malcolm Sinclair re-elected President". Equity. 11 July 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2013.
13. "Council: Equity Council 2012 – 2014". Equity. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

Further reading

• Lee, Felicity R. (3 February 1999). "British Group Urges Freer Exchange of Actors With U.S.". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 June 2013.

External links

• Official website