The MOU set a benchmark for the best working practices in the creative industry ensuring a focus on delivering equality, diversity and inclusion. Image credit: Shutterstock.
The 2022 Commonwealth Games was a huge success and right from the outset, the trade union movement backed the bid to bring the Games to Birmingham.
As we announced back in July, the MU were proud to sign an agreement with the Commonwealth Games to ensure fair pay for the artists involved.
The agreement was made in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and signed between the Organising Committee for the Commonwealth Games and cultural sector unions including the MU, BECTU, Equity and the TUC.
Watch the new video from the TUC below, which looks at the impact of the MOU with contributions from members.
A recap of the MOU
The MOU ensured that the nationally recognised rates of pay for creatives would be adhered to, eliminating the risk of a race to the bottom on pay. Further, it also made clear the difference between volunteers, community art and professional work. In doing so, trust and confidence were built that allowed the full involvement of communities alongside properly paid and respected professional artists.
In building a lasting cultural legacy, the MOU set out a commitment to ‘support and promote diversity in the engagement of professional creative sector workers who were based in Birmingham and the Midlands, in order to support the long term cultural and economic prosperity of the region.’
Importantly, it also set a benchmark for the best working practices in the creative industry ensuring a focus on delivering equality, diversity and inclusion.
Now that the Games have finished, the TUC is calling for this work to continue by replicating the agreement into the next Commonwealth Games in Victoria, Australia.