Equity West End indicative ballot result Tuesday 19 May
On Tuesday 19 May 2026, Equity will announce the results of indicative ballots which asked West End workers if they are prepared to take strike action and if they back the union's revised claim for a pay rise and improvements to terms and conditions.
When: 15:45 for 16:00 announcement, Tuesday 19 May 2026 Where: Guild House, Upper St Martin's Lane, London, WC2H 9EG What: Equity General Secretary Paul W Fleming along with West End workers and Equity members holding banners and placards with a short speech announcing the result. Professional photography provided. Interviews on request. The result will also be press released.
Please RSVP to [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> to attend or for more information
Strike More than 800 members (performers and stage management) currently working in the West End were asked to vote in an online indicative ballot on the question of whether they are prepared to take strike action.
Supporting Equity's claim Both current West End workers and those who have worked on the West End in the last three years (since the agreement was last negotiated) were asked to vote on whether they back the union's claim for better pay and conditions, including:
7% pay rise every year for three years on all minimum rates
Additional holiday
Full incapacity pay if injured on production
Indicative The ballot is indicative - or consultative - only. A further statutory ballot could follow which would form the legal basis for industrial action on the West End.
Background Equity is negotiating a multi-year agreement with West End producers' association SOLT (Society of London Theatre), which sets minimum pay, terms and conditions for the workforce.
Negotiations for a new agreement covering performers and stage management have been ongoing since December of 2025, and have been constructive to date. Equity is pleased with tentative proposals around improvements to maternity and paternity pay, wigs, hair, and makeup, and other terms.
However, they do not form part of a package which meets the union's reasonable expectations on pay, holiday, rehearsal working time, injury, and stage management differentials. SOLT (Society of London Theatre) have also declined to offer payments for newly defined roles, like fight and social media captains, or to resolve issues around stage management covering other roles.
Around 1,000 performers and stage management currently working across the West End are covered by the collective agreement, and the overwhelming majority are Equity members.
The ballot opened on Monday 27 April and closes on Monday 18 May.
