818 ic difference Sirlam obliged to make reparation for he dis paragement
perpetrated by your Columnist, Will Waspe, when conveying n totally inaccurate and misleading nnnression of NATTKE stage-staff at the London Coliseum (November 30). c It is incorrect to suggest that staff (f)Trnonly receive weekly pay packets ° around C200". Excluding wardrobe ans.,..d wigs staff, who are paid E38.50 and 'as.81 for a 361/2-hour and 38-hour week reaPectively, there are four main eateries of employment for technical tage-ntaff Subject to PAYE, weekly payments for a basic working week of 461/2 hours are scaled from £51.75 to £43.89. Basic rates of pay can only be supplemented if optional overtime is worked. Far from being the "most lavishly remunerated stagehands in the business," a modicum of research would reveal that a more generous basic weekly wage can be attributed to our Royal Opera House counterparts, whilst colleagues in West End commercial theatres are in receipt of higher overtime rates. , Both subsidised and commercial London theatre managements have also paid 'threshold" to their NATTKE workers. It is a fact that the wasteful London Coliseum dispute around £100,000 of public money squandered at the box office so far is not a consequence of demands for increased basic wages and/or overtime rates. The unnecessary and extravagant strife arose because of English National Opera management's refusal to meet in order to discuss the anomalous nonpayment of -threshold" to their NATTKE stage-staff.
For the 1974 ten-week concurrent 'fortnightly and weekly tours, English National Opera management required, NATTKE staff to work a seven-day week of 122 and 130 actual hours. Enough time for a "high lifestyle"? Moreover, as thestaff were paid less than London Coliseum based rates, it can be estimated that English National Opera management were saved some £12,389.
With reference to the lack of support from the Musicians' Union and Equity, it must be emphasised that the general secretaries of both unions have issued directives to their members neither to perform nor rehearse within the confines of the Coliseum. Further, considerable numbers of MU, Equity, ACTT, ETU and NATTKE members employed in theatres, TV and film studios have petitioned and donated encouraging contributions of invaluable assistance to the eighty-one people acting in defence of their jobs.
Roger Dade Chief Steward, NATTKE, London Coliseum, London WC2
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