Actors’ Equity announced that it has arrived at a new Bay Area Theatres (BAT) agreement with area theatres. The agreement, which was unanimously approved by Equity's Western Regional Board, lasts through July 17, 2022.
The agreement includes an immediate salary increase ranging from 3.5 percent to 37.1 percent and an additional 4 percent increase for each subsequent year of the agreement for all Tiers and functions, resulting in compounded increases of between 16.4 percent and 54 percent over the 4-year term.
Other key changes include provisions for Stage Manager payments, improvements to protections for Stage Managers including increases in pre-production and a requirement for an ASM for shows with a cast of 10 or more, increases to payments for dance captains and fight captains, updated language regarding the EMC program and new audition language that limits the use of personal information and requiring casting notices to contain the name and title of casting personnel expected at auditions.
“The new BAT contract will create more work opportunities and higher wages for Performers and Stage Managers in one of the nation’s largest theatre centers," said Doug Carfrae, Western Regional Vice President of Actors’ Equity Association. "This contract was driven by the needs of our members in the Bay Area, and I want to thank all the members of the Bargaining Committee who volunteered their time to help us with the negotiating process."
In the 2018 Regional Theatre Report, Actors’ Equity shared that more than 1,350 Equity members live in the Bay Area, which includes the cities of Oakland, San Francisco and San Jose and averages 7.1 work weeks per member. The new terms of this agreement mark the latest in a series of additional and better-paying work opportunities negotiated by Equity as part of its Equity 2020 mission.
The new terms of this agreement mark the latest in a series of additional and better-paying work opportunities organized by Equity as part of its Equity 2020 mission. The recent New England Area Theatres (NEAT) agreement created additional contracts for Chorus performers, Principal Performers and Stage Managers, who will also see their additional payments during Tech Week double.
In May, Equity reached a deal with Norwegian Cruise Line, marking the first time that a full Equity cast has been used on a cruise ship. In March, Equity reached an agreement with the producers of Rocktopia to ensure the show used wall-to-wall Equity contracts. In December, Equity announced a new three-year agreement with BroadwayCon, a contract that more than doubled the weekly salaries for stage managers and created a 95 percent increase in the weekly minimum for actors.
