The agreement guarantees that professional creative workers are engaged on terms in line with trade union collectively bargained agreements, where they exist. Photo: Shutterstock.
The MU has worked alongside fellow creative unions Equity, Bectu, and Artists Union England to create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, which aims to ensure that creative workers engaged in the programme will receive decent pay and conditions.
The MOU is part of a body of work undertaken by the TUC Yorkshire and Humber’s Creative and Leisure Industries Committee. The agreement guarantees that professional creative workers are engaged on terms in line with trade union collectively bargained agreements, where they exist.
The UK City of Culture scheme is designed to boost a city's visitor numbers, economies and reputations, with Bradford receiving £15m in government funding. An estimated 10,000 people celebrated the start of Bradford's year as UK City of Culture at an open-air event in January.
Musicians will be engaged fairly and according to our minimum terms and rates
MU North of England Regional Organiser Paul Reed said:
“The Musicians’ Union is delighted to have worked with Bradford 2025 and fellow creative unions on the creation of this Memorandum of Understanding. It is an important framework, ensuring that musicians in the North of England and further afield will be engaged fairly and according to our minimum terms and rates. We warmly welcome this positive dialogue and commitment from Bradford 2025, and that the equitable treatment of musicians is at the heart of their vision”.
Chief Executive at Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture Dan Bates said:
“This agreement is a milestone for Bradford 2025 and the region’s creative sector. As we showcase everything that makes Bradford and the wider district special - from its rich history, to its vibrant contemporary culture - it’s vital that the creative professionals [or artists, performers and technicians] who bring this vision to life are treated fairly and paid properly for their work”.