This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/stage/2013/feb/27/west-end-shows-strike-threat

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
West End shows face strike threat West End shows face strike threat
(about 2 hours later)
A string of West End hit shows including The Lion King, Wicked, and James McAvoy's sellout performance as Macbeth, could be hit by strike action after talks broke down between the Ambassador Theatre Group and the union representing front- and backstage staff.A string of West End hit shows including The Lion King, Wicked, and James McAvoy's sellout performance as Macbeth, could be hit by strike action after talks broke down between the Ambassador Theatre Group and the union representing front- and backstage staff.
The union Bectu, which represents theatre staff from ice cream sellers to stage hands, is balloting for strike action after talks at conciliation service Acas over pay and conditions stalled. The union Bectu, which represents theatre staff from ice cream sellers to stage hands, is balloting for strike action after talks at the conciliation service Acas over pay and conditions stalled.
After a string of recent acquisitions, the Ambassadors is the largest West End theatre group, and owns or operates some of the best-known stages including the Lyceum, home of the Lion King, the Victoria Apollo, where Wicked has been running for six years, the Piccadilly, where the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever is packing them in, and the Donmar Warehouse, where Oscar-winning director Joe Wright's first stage production, Trelawny of the Wells, has just opened. After a string of recent acquisitions, the Ambassadors is the largest West End theatre group, and owns or operates some of the best-known stages including the Lyceum, home of the Lion King, the Victoria Apollo, where Wicked has been running for six years, the Piccadilly, where the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever is packing in the crowds, and the Donmar Warehouse, where the Oscar-winning director Joe Wright's first stage production, Trelawny of the Wells, has just opened.
In a statement, the union warned ticketgoers to check the progress of the dispute, which involves hundreds of staff, most of whom are paid £6.45 an hour, just above the minimum wage. In a statement, the union warned ticketgoers to check the progress of the dispute, which involves hundreds of staff most of whom are paid £6.45 an hour, just above the minimum wage.
"Plans for industrial action will not be decided until the strike ballot has got under way, but the union has already warned theatregoers that they should check in advance whether the shows they have booked might be hit. Top London shows including Lion King, Wicked, and Let It Be could be affected if industrial action goes ahead.""Plans for industrial action will not be decided until the strike ballot has got under way, but the union has already warned theatregoers that they should check in advance whether the shows they have booked might be hit. Top London shows including Lion King, Wicked, and Let It Be could be affected if industrial action goes ahead."
Pat Styles, the Bectu official who has been leading negotiations, accused the group of sabotaging the talks by demanding changes in conditions that were agreed only a few months ago, including cutting the minimum amount of time front-of-house workers would be paid for for each performance, from 3.5 to three hours. Pat Styles, the Bectu official who has been leading negotiations, accused the group of sabotaging the talks by demanding changes in conditions that were agreed only a few months ago, including cutting the minimum amount of time for which front-of-house workers would be paid for each performance from 3.5 to three hours.