Ballet Winners

Labrug | 11/07/2007 - 12:21

Dance | Dancer | Dancer - ballet | Theatre

I recently received my Equity Magazine from the Alliance and was having a flick through. Within the pages of this National Mag was a segment about our WA Ballet dancers and their recent Pay Claim success. This incident hit the news some time back (you may recall I wrote something about it also) and the Alliance made sure that as many people heard about as possible. It worked.

The fact that audience members were not only applauding successful productions of Debris back in March (2007), they were also crying "More pay for Dancers" shows how many people took this issue seriously. Goergina Hagerty took on a very daunting role of spokes-person for the Alliance and dancers.

When Ballet Management admitted to the underpaid wages of their dancers, they undermined their other contradictory comments claims that the dancers' demands were "extraordinary."

The results was (of course) that dancers' underpaid status was recognised and adjusted. According to Mr Carpenter, "Their pay claim is more than justified."

What strikes me most about this article is the final quote from Ms Hagerty. "The most important thing is to be united, and the way to do that in this day and age is to be in Alliance's Equite Section." Whatever group you are in, you have to in it to be a part of it.

Article by David Cohen - WA base freelance journalist.

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Maybe the opera next?

Author: Neville Talbot
Date: 18/07/2007 - 11:18

I know that I'll probably get in trouble, but maybe we could launch a campaign to ensure that the singers of the WA Opera Chorus are paid fair rates for their work.
I have written about this before, can't remember where. Prob in the above-mentioned ballet segment.
However, almost 18 months after the first raising of the issue, the chorus are still on bare award rates (and were being paid under award for almost 3.5 years until the beginning of last year- BTW the company is refusing to consider back pay of these LEGAL MINIMUM fees), and are still waiting for the 2007 agreement to be signed between Live Performance Australia and the union so we can go onto these new and significantly higher rates. We are currently on the 1997-2000 agreement!
Most companies in Australia to my understanding are paying the new agreement rate pending the completion of the agreement negotiations anyway. WA Opera is not one of these companies.
It appears from the outside that the company simply hasn't budgeted pay rises for singers for at least 7 years, and they are about to get caught out without enough money to meet these new commitments.

Unfortunately, as per the post above- the problem is that there are maybe 3 or 4 of us who are members of the alliance (the average chorus singer earns about $7-10K pa for their WAO commitments). Most of the chorus are younger, worried about rocking the boat for their future careers in tiny Perth, are not convinced there's enough money involved, and frankly some still appear to think of it almost as a hobby rather than a profession.

anyway, I have more than enough gripes I could get to, but if anyone out there feels like bringing some posters and yelling out at the upcoming opening of Rigoletto...?!

Neville

It's the simple things stupid...

Consideration

Author: Labrug
Date: 18/07/2007 - 12:14

Have you considered asking if a Equity/Alliance rep would be prepared to come out and talk to the members? Give them reasons Why to join? Etc.

I'd use the WA Ballet win as a key example. Neville, contact me privately with a postal address and I shall post out a copy of the article in the Equity Magazine I have, if you think it will help.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

Home Page
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thanks

Author: Neville Talbot
Date: 19/07/2007 - 12:04

Thanks Jeff,
Already get the equity mag! And yes, the Alliance is already looking into meeting with us as a chorus. Hopefully this will happen soon...

Nev

It's the simple things stupid...

Best Wishes

Author: Labrug
Date: 19/07/2007 - 16:21

Then I wish you and your 'crew' all the best. Make a loud noise guys.

Absit invidia

Jeff Watkins
Perth based Actor/Performer
Fight/Sword Choreographer
Virgin Director

Home Page
Yahoo Blog Page

Ballet Winners

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