The new ITC/Equity contract & approved manager status

Through a year of research and development we have significantly revised and updated the ITC/Equity Agreement for Performers and Stage Managers.

ITC and Equity facilitated a series of meetings with members from a diverse range of sectors, to learn more about how companies use the existing contract. As a result, we now have a streamlined, flexible Agreement that can be used by many more ITC members.

The structure of the new Agreement will be familiar to existing users, it consists of:-
· Collective agreement: An agreement between ITC and Equity as the appropriate organisations to negotiate national agreements for performers and stage managers.
· Contract form: The basics: what the company member is engaged to do, on what dates and at what salary.
· Terms & conditions: Further details of the fundamentals, e.g: Rates of pay (salary, touring expenses, relocation and commuting costs); working time and breaks; TOIL and – significantly simplified – overtime pay provisions; time off (holiday, sickness, family friendly leave).
· The handbook: A new addition – recommendations that Managers can use to enhance good practice.

Variation
Whilst the new agreement is designed to be flexible enough for the majority of companies to use, we have retained the facility for companies to apply to vary the terms and conditions; even, occasionally, to vary the minimum salary to a lower rate. Contract users are encouraged to try to improve on the contract terms wherever possible – these are minimum terms and conditions.

Approved manager status
We have also revised the Approved Manager system to encourage wider use of the Agreement. To become an Approved Manager a company must be an Organisation Member of ITC and must be:-

Constituted: You must be registered as a limited company – this will usually be a Company Limited by Guarantee, however, you may be registered as a Company with share capital or as a Community Interest Company (with Guarantee or Shares).
Insured: You must have Employers’ and Public Liability cover.
Committed to good management:
· You must have an Equal Opportunities Policy, a Health & Safety Policy and, if appropriate, a Child Protection Policy.
· Ideally the Administrator/General Manager should have had at least a year’s experience of working with the company or a similar company. If not, there should be an effective support and supervision structure (e.g: by the Artistic Director/Board Members/other staff) and appropriate training should be provided.
· If the company has been involved in any disputes with Equity, ITC must be informed of these when you apply for Approved Manager Status
Financially stable:
· The Company should not have an uncontrolled or unsecured deficit.
· Approved Manager status applicants must provide:
o Budgets for year ahead
o Most recent full Management Accounts and/or
o Income & Expenditure Account and Balance Sheet

Registering as an Approved Manager will continue to be on an annual basis and there is an administration fee of just £60 + VAT.

To access a reference copy of the new ITC/Equity Agreement for Performers & Stage Managers or for an AMS Application Form click on the link to Rates of Pay and Standard Contracts in the box on the right of this page.

If you have any queries about AMS or ITC’s union agreements contact Jackie Elliman on 020 7089 6823 or email Jackie Elliman.