Unions

What the Workers Said

Actor Di Smith was one of nine ordinary workers who addressed this week's rally. Here's what she had to say.

	MC Sue Cruikshank speaks to the Second Wave rally

You might think that it's a little out of place for a television actor to be standing up here talking about Peter Reith's stripping of our award system. I know that many people have the view of actors that it's all big money and your own trailer on the backlot beside Tom Cruise. For most of us, it couldn't be further from the truth. Actors are workers. Workers who have basic day to day conditions to work under with an employer.

The two major headaches for performers under the new Industrial Relations Act are (and this is what Mr Reith doesn't seem to understand):

1. We work for many different employers in any one year, for varying periods of time, and are more than likely doing a totally different type of job each time.

2. We work in an industry that has incredibly specific requirements. Therefore, this means a day on a film shooting out near Cobar needs far different conditions, rates of pay and hours of work, than a national tour of the musical "Chicago" - and voicing a radio commercial for an hour in a soundproof studio bears no resemblance to wearing a banana suit for twelve hours a day.

### Peter Reith's industrial reforms could not have been worse for us. It has meant that each time we are employed, sometimes it is only for one day, we have to negotiate the terms and conditions for that day. The job is always unusual by nature, so Reith's ten basic points are hopelessly inadequate.

For instance, Performers share many of the same conditions required by the job description of the man or woman standing next to you. But, as an example of the specifics of the industry, the man or woman next to you would probably never have to negotiate doing that job without any clothes on. But I'll get back to that ...

Reith's 1st wave of reforms removed the standard contracts that dealt specifically with each different type of job that a performer might have. And more terrifying still, the insufficiency of Reith's basic points mean that in an industry where the competition is fierce, the lack of minimum wages and conditions is disastrous. If it means scoring that job, performers will work for less than the minimum wage; and taker no touring allowance for working interstate; and forgo the ten hour break by knocking off at 11pm and starting again at seven if it means work. In our business, there is always someone who will do it for less - so, unless the contracts can protect us, we end up undercutting each other and forcing our wages down and down. We CANNOT, as Mr Reith laughingly would have us believe, convince a huge production company who has a line of two hundred auditionees at the door that we are worth more than wages and conditions that are the bare minimum. This state of affairs means that making a living for experienced, well known and respected actors has become more and more difficult. - I'm not talking about people just starting out in the business - this has affected some of the cream of our dramatic talent as well.

Okay, now back to the specifics of an actor's job. The clearest illustration I can give you is nudity. The nudity clause in the standard contract deals with something that not too many other professions need to deal with. The builders labourers probably will never have to negotiate appearing naked on the site (now there's a picture !).

It's a fact in modern theatre and cinema. It's not shocking or unusual. It's part of many a role that actors, both men and women, find as part of their job at one time or another. The clause laid out things like:

# .. the set where the actor was to appear naked was to be a closed set ... This means that only absolutely essential crew were to be allowed access at that time;

# .. that details such as whether the actor was to be viewed from a full frontal or back and be clearly stated in the contract

# .. and that an extra loading be added to the fee for the performer over and above the rate of pay for the job.

Peter Reith last year lodged a notice of objection to the stripped back (pardon the pun) version of the contract, stating that the clause relating to appearing nude was not a allowable matter. What needed to be done was to inform the actor formally that they would be appearing nude. He also wanted to remove clauses regarding the termination of sick or injured performers ... and even the kettle from the kitchen in a job where you are often unable to nip down to the shop to get a cuppa because of the banana suit you're wearing.

Performers, however, voted to take this matter further through our union, the EQUITY section of MEAA, and took Peter Reith to task on the nudity issue.

Our standard theatre contract, thanks to a long and concentrated battle fought by the MEAA remains. The full bench of the Industrial Relations Commission found it to be an "exceptional matter", and must stay in place for the fair employment of performers in theatre. So did the EIEA, the employers association.

That was the first wave ... now there's more to undermine us. And this stuff is really dangerous.

Firstly: Employers will be able to use non-standard contracts ... This means that even if the employer has signed a Performers certified agreement, they can legally offer lower rates of pay and conditions in a secret agreement;

Secondly: If there is more than 60% union membership in a production, then Equity will be investigated. Equity (by the way) has 100% membership.

Thirdly: Services of the Industrial Relations Commission to conciliate matters will cost both parties ... That's if you can get the other party to agree !

The major point for me is the knowledge that, for performers, individual agreements do not serve us well at all, and that collective bargaining is the only way we can begin to ensure that our basic, basic right as workers are protected. Reith's reforms make it impossible for the individual to negotiate fairly with employers.

If you can join a union, do it.

If you are a member, support it.

It's the only bargaining tool most of us have left

   See pictures from the Rally

  View entire issue - print all of the articles!

  Issue 28 contents

»	Shock New Stats! Readers Desert Newspapers
»	Surfing the Wave
»	Vizard Smokescreen Clouds Computer Deal
»	Youth Wages: Is Bevis a Butthead?
»	Which Bank Harasses Sick Workers?
»	SOCOG Eyes Wide Shut on Games Gear
»	Scully Uses Reith First Wave Against Rail Workers
»	Reith Building Blitz Hits Bum Note
»	Entitlements Focus Shifts Back to Woodlawn
»	Fresh South Coast Ballot Called
»	"Big Drum Up" For East Timor
»	Eric Lee Public Forum

»	Guest Report
»	Sport
»	Trades Hall
»	Piers Watch

»	Vizard: Net Content Is Vital
»	No, No, No to MSN Model
»	The Vizard deal. Is it another great deal for you!!!!???

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