Unions and West Midlands Combined Authority sign landmark agreement to support creative industry workers

The landmark agreement will seek to build on the region’s cultural and creative strengths, including its young and diverse workforce and secure new jobs, fairer pay, and long-term career opportunities for local people.

This agreement has grown out of earlier partnership work between unions and the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 and Coventry’s City of Culture and supports with the Combined Authority’s identification of the creative industries as a cornerstone of regional economic growth.  

The ‘Memorandum of Understanding’ has also been signed at a time that the west midlands has been identified as a ‘priority region’ for the creative industries with the promise of a share of £60 million.

Rob Johnston, TUC Midlands Policy and Campaigns Officer, said: 
“This is a truly landmark agreement. Creative workers employed through the combined authority will now receive union rates. Moreover, it sends a signal to the wider industry around the pay and conditions that are expected in our region.

“With a focus on local employment and inclusion, this agreement will help deliver a thriving creative sector, underpinned with good jobs, here in the West Midlands.

“What’s more, the commitment from the Mayor and combined authority to work with unions is tremendously refreshing and something other sectors and areas could learn from.”

Caroline Hemmington, Bectu Assistant Secretary, said
"Bectu are proud  to be part of active collaboration between the WMCA and the trade unions Supporting cultural and creative diversity linked to ensuring rewarding employment with fair pay and conditions is a vital part of ensuring cultural longevity in the region."

Ian Manbourde, Equity Regional Secretary, said:
“Equity welcomes the landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the WMCA as setting a benchmark for standing setting in the use of trade union rates and terms where professional performers and creative practitioners are engaged through devolved government funding.We will seek to replicate this excellent model of good working practice across the UK. We particularly welcome the focus on the MoU’s support for a thriving regional economy for performers and creative workers as part of the Mayor’s agenda for good work and good pay.”

Stephen Brown, Musician’s Union Midlands Regional Organiser, said:
“As unions collectively, we are delighted to have been working with the Combined Authority and Mayor’s Office to agree this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the engagement of creative sector workers in our region. 

“The great thing about it is that it not only means public bodies recognising union rates, it sets a wider landscape and benchmark in the West Midlands for the treatment, terms and conditions, and fees for creative sector workers who are predominantly self-employed. It also means there’s a focus on local employment, and it consider equality, diversity and inclusion, as a key component for any projects commissioned through or by the Combined Authority. 

“Our goal is a sustainable thriving creative sector providing good jobs in this region and this MoU will be a key factor in helping to achieve this by excellent utilisation under the terms of the MoU of the Commonwealth Games Legacy money.”