That's Entertainment: Musicians urged to Unionise

The Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) union in Derry has said today that "Only a union will guarantee workers rights such as quality of pay and safe working conditions for musicians, not council database."

The statement comes as Derry City and Strabane District Council announced an open call for musicians to register for inclusion in a new database.

A representative of the IWW stated following today's announcement that "We urge musicians to organise to ensure they are not taken advantage of, not just during festivals and other occasions, but all year round.

"As a union, we believe that all artists performing, and sharing their labour and trade, must be unionised in order to defend their interests as workers throughout the sector. We believe that ‘Every Worker Needs A Union’, from the artists on stage, the bar and door staff to cleaning and catering staff. A union will ensure their rights and demands are protected and made vocal.

"We support the call for workers to register in the council database as we know that this city has such a wealth of talent that other cities would die for a fraction of. The city is renowned throughout the world for its talent and it is time that council acknowledges and reflects this in practice. However as a union, we believe the musicians deserve to be treated and paid accordingly, and not so that others can profit from it. We urge all workers to unionise to ensure that they are paid properly and respected across the entertainment industry."

You can join the union by clicking on the following link HERE