On the 2nd of June ballot papers will be sent to Equity members. I am one of the candidates standing for election as Wales' Councillor. It's actually the first election in 21 years where more than one candidate has stood to represent Wales.

So, why me? Read on and see what you think (If you aren't in the union you are welcome too).

I believe in Equity. I have an unbroken record of membership, in benefit since the day I got my provisional Equity card in the late 1970s, good years and bad, no excuses. Now, more than thirty years on I’d really like to get your vote.

There is no such thing as an average Equity member. Each and every one of us has a unique career path and we don’t always fit neatly into the boxes. It may be an obvious point but it’s one that often gets overlooked in the process of collective bargaining. One thing is certain: we all need a strong union; the future of our industry needs us to be a strong union. I believe that the way to achieve and maintain a strong union is to listen to the members (and potential members) who don’t attend meetings and the individuals whose needs may not always fit the negotiated outcome.

Our strength is in consensus and unity. Members (or potential members) get lost and our union is so much the weaker. The bureaucratic jargon is all about membership churn and retention. I’m not a bureaucrat, I take it personally. I want a strong union and the union needs all of us in this business to help. That’s why I’m standing in this election. Because I think I can help.

(If you aren't in the union and you're still reading you are now, unofficially, a potential member.)

At the moment I am especially concerned about...

Low pay/no pay/etc:

We must urgently address the various ways in which employers take advantage of members’ need for exposure in a professional market place. This is not a debate about genuine profit-share which will always be a creative option. This is about funded theatres and profit-making enterprises that are now routinely expecting actors to provide their skills for free to any number of projects and courses – all on the promise of being seen or the chance of meeting someone useful. This exploitation must be stopped.

And another thing - student films: Why aren’t film students taught that a production budget should include actors’ wages?

Casting Directors who charge for seminars at which you get to meet (surprise, surprise) the Casting Director. This is bit like paying to be on an agent’s books and it’s becoming something of a norm. Some actors now see this as a regular marketing expense, like Spotlight or new photos. At the very least, we need to sit down with the Casting Directors Guild to formulate a best practice policy.

The particular joys and challenges facing Wales: National Theatre Wales, devolved funding issues, Welsh language broadcasting, etc.

And what about actor-musicians, role players, historical and museum interpreters? And the future of variety? And more. So much more.

That’s some of why I’m standing in this election. Please vote - whoever you end up voting for.

If you want a conversation (or want to join/rejoin Equity), please, do get in touch. It'll be good to hear from you.

TVx