Creative workers across the Midlands received a boost in March with the signing of a landmark union agreement in the West Midlands and a kick start meeting on the arts and culture agenda with the new East Midlands Metro Mayor.
Equity has joined with other creative unions to sign a partnership deal with the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) to secure new jobs, fairer pay, and long-term career opportunities for creative workers.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Equity alongside TUC Midlands, Bectu, Musicians’ Union and the Writers’ Guild. The agreement seeks to build on the region’s cultural and creative strengths and has grown out of earlier partnership work between unions and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 and Coventry’s City of Culture.
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.
WMCA has identified the creative industries as a cornerstone of regional economic growth. The West Midlands has also been identified as a ‘priority region’ for the creative industries with the promise of a share of £60 million.
Commenting Ian Manborde, Equity Regional Official, said: “Equity welcomes this landmark Memorandum of Understanding (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 welcome the 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.”
Equity is also supporting creative workers in the East Midlands. On 25 March Ian Manborde, Equity Regional Official, joined representatives from TUC Midlands and the Musicians’ Union to meet with Claire Ward, East Midlands Metro Mayor.
This was the first meeting of creative trade unions and the East Midlands Metro Mayor following the creation of the East Midlands Combined Authority (EMCA) in 2024.
At the meeting, unions and the Mayor discussed discuss priorities in relation to arts and culture in the region. EMCA committed to adopting a set of guidelines for working together and supporting the arts and entertainment industries in the region.
“We welcome initial discussions with the EMCA,” said Ian Manborde. “We are confident that such discussions will bring about similar benefits to our members, so arts and creative industries can flourish across the Midlands.”
