Spirit of '45 at Young Vic?

Can we be inspired by our colleagues at other cultural venues across London?

From a team member

Thoughts

I note:

That casual work opportunities allow those who work in the creative industries to pursue their artistic dreams whilst still ensuring financial security.

That access to the Young Vic’s excellent creative output in turn furthers and benefits the artistic work and creativity of performance artists, writers, photographers, actors, dancers, singers and designers (either practising or studying) who currently are at the Young Vic on a casual basis.

That the Young Vic has currently (before new measure are introduced) a positive multiplier effect on the local economy and employs residents from the Young Vic’s two surrounding boroughs.

That other Off-West End theatres that employ a similar style of ‘Welcome’ format to that which is to be introduced at the Young Vic struggle to replicate the Young Vic’s excellence in audience satisfaction due to chronic understaffing and staff fatigue.

That the Young Vic often proudly puts on productions with messages of solidarity and respect for all, and relies on Front of House staff to assist with the smooth implementation of these productions.

That many Front of House staff feel undervalued or poorly treated.

I believe:

That a system in which some Front of House / ‘Welcome’ staff are on fixed-term contracts and others are not will create a two-tiered structure in which some members of staff are seen as better than others, reneging  on the Young Vic’s egalitarian ethos.

That all Front of House staff should be paid the London Living Wage and that the Young Vic has a moral responsibility to pay this. More information can be found here.

That all Front of House staff have a duty upon themselves to be a member of BECTU, and in turn BECTU should acknowledge the benefits of a casual contract and be in constant consultation with its members.

That the Young Vic has a duty of care to all members of staff, regardless of contract or position.

I resolve:

That at a time of economic uncertainty and cuts to arts funding, the Young Vic should and can be a shining example of creative excellence combined with a compassionate, respectful and mutually beneficial attitude towards its Front of House staff, recognising their work, supporting their continued employment and ensuring that they are treated as full members of the Young Vic family through representation at company-wide meetings, events and socials. 

We're scared, so we are doing this.

• This blog has been created in the face of antagonism from management.
• It has been created from the organs of a theatre which puts on inspiring and aesthetically brilliant productions about peoples' uprisings
• It has been created from a theatre that says 'it's a big world in here', but puts the weakest people in that world against the wall at the easiest opportunity.
• The blog has been created in response to passive aggressive vocal violence from management.
• It's been created through the voice of a team of staff who represent one of the most commercially successful 'off-west-end' theatres in London.
• It has been created to counteract and advocate oppressive words.
• It has been created to give a voice to people in the team who may not be confident in speaking to higher powers.
• It has been made to give a platform to a team who need a platform, within an institution which would pride itself on giving access to that platform to wider audiences across the boroughs it resides in.
• It's been made by and for people who love their jobs at Young Vic and are scared that these jobs are about to be taken away from them.
• It's been made to give a megaphone to the silence which will be the lasting affect to what I fear is about to happen.