Equity marks International Workers’ Memorial Day with name for the trade to step up on night time time security

Every 12 months commerce unionists world wide mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28 April. It is a day to recollect all those that have died at work and renew our combat for higher well being and security circumstances for all employees.  

More individuals are killed annually at work than in wars. Most do not die of thriller illnesses, or in tragic “accidents”, however as a result of an employer determined their security simply wasn’t that necessary a precedence. Unions are combating again to defend each employee and be certain that security requirements are met.  

Night time security for performers

We know that security is a serious concern for Equity members, particularly these working within the night time time financial system, which is why we’re calling for a tradition shift in how the trade tackles security for performers.  

Performing artists corresponding to cabaret artistes, comedians, stage administration and singers could be susceptible when working at night time, particularly when working alone. Their work can embody leaving venues late at night time, parking and loading out in insecure places with costly and/or cumbersome tools and an absence of non-public safety.  

Our latest survey of nightlife performers in London revealed that:  

• 33% of respondents really feel much less protected travelling to and from a gig now than in earlier years.
• 90% of respondents stated that promotors/venues hardly ever or by no means present a taxi residence late at night time as a security provision.
• 29% of respondents really feel much less protected at work than in earlier years.
• When asking for any additional feedback about security a major variety of folks commented about violence, aggression and sexual assault.
• 28% of responses explicitly describe a rise in transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, racism or far proper sentiment of their working life. Experiencing common cases of violence, aggression, and inappropriate touching.
• Sexual Assault of employees is so normalised and anticipated even, that one individual steered charging an additional charge to venues who don’t have safety, “to compensate for potential sexual assault (which happens far too often)”.

We are calling on the trade to place performers’ security first, not deal with it as an afterthought.   

Embedding protections in agreements

Our new union settlement with Manchester Pride consists of protections to make sure members get residence safely. The settlement says that if no altering rooms can be found the performer can request a taxi to and from the competition so nobody is having to make use of public transport in drag.  

Safe Home marketing campaign

Equity’s Safe Home marketing campaign has known as on venues to safeguard performing artists who work at night time or in susceptible places in Northern Ireland. The marketing campaign asks venue homeowners and managers to comply with sure ideas together with that artists shall be supplied with respected taxi agency numbers to rearrange their transport or shall be supplied with a free automobile parking area on request. Belfast City Council not too long ago pledged £10,000 in assist of this marketing campaign which is able to fund the creation of a web-based video useful resource, arduous copy Safe Home posters for Belfast venues outlining their dedication to the ideas and a web site itemizing of those that have signed up throughout town.  

Watch out for extra on our Safe Home marketing campaign within the coming months and how one can get entangled. 

Other methods we’re campaigning on security

• Last 12 months an Equity movement calling for authorities motion to forestall sexual harassment on public transport was handed unanimously on the TUC Women’s Conference. The movement highlighted the dangers for ladies working within the performing arts sector who usually depend on late-night journey as a part of their working lives.
• In 2025, Equity joined the Justice for Heklina marketing campaign, to hunt solutions concerning the demise of drag artist, Heklina. Heklina, born Stephen Grygelko, was discovered lifeless at a flat in Soho on 3 April 2023 and had been performing in a present at Soho Theatre on the time of their demise. The case is illustrative of the rise of security fears for LGBTQ+ nighttime employees, significantly drag and selection members who’re going through more and more inhospitable working circumstances in London as a result of fast decline of small venues, rising homophobic and transphobic violence and low ranges of belief within the Metropolitan Police Force.