Bumper pay rise for Stand Comedy Club staff

WORKERS at a Newcastle comedy club have secured pay rises of at least 13.6%.

A one-year pay deal for staff at the Stand Comedy Club on High Bridge sees the lowest paid staff receive pay rises of 13.6%. However, some workers will receive pay increases of 19.3% due to their pay bands being regraded.

Housed in the former Waygood complex, The Stand has been a mainstay of the Newcastle nightlife scene since opening in 2011, with sister venues in Glasgow and Edinburgh. In the past 13 years, it has helped to launch and/or nurture the careers of North East talent, including Sammy Dobson, who recently bagged a major role in BBC’s Casualty; and household names such as Sarah Millican and Chris Ramsey.

In 2019, Unite signed a voluntary recognition agreement with Stand Comedy, which has been described as “industry-leading”. Under the agreement, all workers are paid at least the living wage as set by the Living Wage Foundation, regardless of their age.

The agreement also ensure workers receive paid rest breaks, full payment for trial shifts, paid transport home after midnight, consultation on rota changes, and they receive 100% of tips. Furthermore, the agreement prevents zero-hours contracts.

Bryan Simpson, Unite lead organiser for hospitality, said that Stand Comedy club workers have some of the best wages and conditions in the sector. He said: “This in turn benefits Stand, boosting its reputation and ensuring it does not suffer the same high staff turnover rates that afflict many other venues. Unite will continue to organise tirelessly across the hospitality industry and we urge those wanting to drive up wages and working conditions to join us.”

A spokesperson for The Stand said: “We’ve always been a pro-union employer and are proud to be able to collaborate with Unite on industry leading practices, like pay-rises that exceed the living wage increase.”