aCtOEs umon. sauy ed by decades of imperialist exploit- are literally the hostages of Persecuted from their own conindex have been tabled.
Any attempt to organise here is met with thing the TUC is now calling openly for the non-renewal of work permits, Not only does this play into the Democracy in the union, the Fringe theatre and the amalgamation of the entertainments industry into a single union will be the maior issues at this weekend's annual conference of the Underlying the whole discussion will pe une devasaune euects oncovem ment policy on the jobs and living standards or the vast majority or equity s 24,000 members. The recently reported 30 per cent rise in the Arts Council subsidy, heralded by the press as a great boost for the arts, will barely meet costs in an already depleted field.
Seventy per cent of Equity's members are unemployed at any one time. Many of the rest get only a £36 a week minimum - the national council's willing acceptance or the do at leaves unem way below une arel orLes sel at last year's AGM. Resolutions censuring me execune for wis and caling tor an increased minimum and cost-of-living increases based on a real price In the past five years a major struggle for democracy in the union has broadened out to involve the whole memDersmp in te ngut or more representa ave structures - local branenes and a delegate conference. This fight is essen tially between the superstar clique of Olivier, Goring and Davenport and friends, who see the union as a pro fessional body preserving the status quo in une mousy ane me mousanas who are victims of the economic crisis. now has approximately 1,000 workers, including 400 Equity members playing to audiences who never enter the West End - and ignored its findings or contracts and 100 per cent unionisation. mustead a proposea standare contrac has been drawn up in cahoots with the Arts Council under which companies who do not meet the requirements, including the payment of a vast deposit. will have their subsidy cut off!
A campaign drawing on the Fringe's thousands of trade union supporters ha: been set in motion to fight this, and resolutons at tne conterence seek to reverse the council's decision and reconvene the sub-committee.
Amalgamation of the entertainments industry into one union is in fact offic ial Equity polcy, but it nas been pre dictably ignored by the council. The fight for a conference on amalgamation this does not preclude local initiatives and discussion between the uniuns involved.
The greatly depleted numbers of the Workers Revolutionary Party, once a major force on the left in the union will be present again this weekend. Bu they have learnt nothing from their previous setbacks Correct positions on nationalisation and a plan of action to achieve it including opening the books, occupations and so on are followed by hairbrained schemes to force the Labour Government to resign, to be followed by a general election for a new Labour Government pledged to socialism - a Ly pical comomanon or um-en ane right-wing nonsense. The motion is being amenaco, nowever, to call tol local and national action by Equity members in conjunctier with other trade unionists, including for the 26 May day of action, against the policies ol the Government and for the remova of the right-wing leadership.
IMG members in Equity