Fringe venues face new demands to improvement treatment of staff

● Guidelines for employers are aimed at ending ‘exploitation’

Pressure is mounting on Fringe operators accused of exploiting workers after a new landmark code of conduct for employers was agree between organisers of the festival and union leaders.

It is aimed at ensuring the “highest possible standards” are in place across the board.

The Fringe Society has reached agreement with BECTU, the UK’S main entertainment industry union, on a “good employment practice” guide following months of behind-the-scenes talks.

Venues and companies staging shows are being urged to follow the new guidance, which has been published after the city council unveiled its own code of conduct for the treatment of festival workers.

The Fair Fringe campaign claims exploitation of workers is so commonplace it is accepted as the status quo.

It urges all employers pay staff at least the “living wage” of £7.83 an hour, protect them from harassment and discrimination, ensure all tips are paid to staff and do not use unpaid trial shifts to fill rotas.

The new blueprint produced by the Fringe Society and Bectusetsoutaseriesofdemands to make hours of work and

0 Roland Saunders takes a break from his Fringe show Fake TV to impersonate Donald Trump outside the Scottish Parliament

pay rate clear in contracts.

There are also measures to ensure Fringe staff do not have any pay docked to meet the cost of accommodation in the city, are allocated proper rest breaks and are given full health and safety training.

The new guide states: “BECTU and the Fringe Society are committed to encouraging employers to follow best practice for the engagement and employment of all workers engaged by venues and productions. Adopting the highest possible employment

FRINGE SOCIETY

standards is both morally and economically beneficial for everyone involved in the Fringe and for the city of Edinburgh as a whole.”

A spokesman for the Fringe Society said: “We conducted an independent survey of Fringe venue workers last year to develop a more detailed picture of the working lives of the many individuals that make the festival happen each year.

“While we were encouraged that90percentofrespondents said that they would choose to work at the Fringe again, and

83 per cent were satisfied or very satisfied with their overall experience, there is still work to be done to ensure that everyone’s Fringe experience is as positive as it can be.”

A council spokeswoman said: “Edinburgh is the world’s ‘Festival City’ and employers have a responsibility to promote and follow best practice.

“We’ll continue to call upon those engaging our festival workers in Edinburgh to help ensure everyone has a fair, fun, festival experience.”

“There is still work to be done to ensure that everyone’s Fringe experience is as positive as it can be”