Member

As BECTU points out, in terms of parental rights, sick pay, health and safety, pensions and other equalities, the rights of self-employed workers lag far behind those of standard employees. Equity rightly asks for the abolition of the minimum income floor for universal credit. All of this, despite the growth in this sector, against the background of low income for many workers. For example, ALCS reported in 2022 that the median income for writers was £7,000, a significant fall from previous surveys. Last year’s report for DACS by the University of Glasgow found that the median income for visual artists is just £12,500. These statistics would be unacceptable in standard employment, whether unionised or not. It has to be said, of course, that this situation has been greatly exacerbated by the previous Government’s withdrawal of investment in the arts and creative industries, particularly at the grass-roots end of the industry, traditionally provided for by a combination of local authority and DCMS funding. In that regard, I cannot say how disappointed I am at the cuts to DCMS funding announced in the spending review.