Disney and MEAA sign performers’ enterprise agreement

The Walt Disney Company (Australia) and the Media Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA) announced on September 24 that they have signed an enterprise agreement covering performers in Disney stage musicals. The agreement gives Disney increased rostering flexibility and modernised publicity provisions while offering significant benefits for performers including increased wages and a new clause covering the use of overseas artists.

James Thane, Managing Director of Disney Theatrical Productions (Australia) said: “The agreement will provide some of the flexibilities around scheduling which are available to the company on Broadway and in the West End and will permit our use of imagery from the show freely across diverse media channels. We are also pleased to have certainty around the area of overseas artists.”

Actors Equity president Simon Burke said: “The inclusion of an overseas artist clause in the agreement is a real breakthrough given that it remains a major area of concern for Australian performers. We are hopeful of securing other sectoral agreements or company-specific agreements along similar lines.”

Under the agreement Disney is committed to conducting a full audition process for all roles and casting Australians unless there is no suitable local performer available. The agreement also provides the potential for reciprocal international exchanges.

Actors Equity director Sue McCreadie said, “Disney has agreed to a substantial increase in the minimum rate for performers in exchange for flexible arrangements around scheduling and publicity that meet the needs of the company while providing performers with plenty of safeguards. Performers will now be paid for the use of their image on promotional material, plus the current 1% contribution above the Superannuation Guarantee will be retained.”

Negotiations commenced in 2012. The agreement has been approved by the Fair Work Commission with effect from September 2013 and it will remain in force until June 2017.

Disney’s next production in Australia is The Lion King which opens in Sydney in December.