As an Equity member, you must be on an Equity contract when working in the Association’s jurisdiction and you must be in Good Standing before signing an Equity contract.
Working as a Member
Agreement Issues
Contact an Equity Business Rep regarding any questions or concerns you have about:
Your contract
Your collective agreement or engagement policy
Payment of fees
Workplace health and safety issues
Find your Business Rep
Not sure who your Business Rep is? Look them up by typing the name of the theatre or Engager below.
Health & Safety Issues
Emergencies
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
For urgent issues after business hours (9 am – 5 pm ET), please contact Equity at 416-867-9165 / 1-800-387-1856 and follow the “in case of an emergency” prompts.
Respectful Workplace issues
Members who have experienced or witnessed inappropriate behaviour in the workplace should speak to the Engager as soon as possible. The Engager has an obligation to be available and receptive to any concerns raised by workers and to investigate any incidents of inappropriate behaviour immediately.
If you have questions about your options for pursuing a complaint regarding inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, you can submit a disclosure to Equity and ask for an Equity Respectful Workplace Advisor to contact you.
Equity Minimums
The wages and working conditions negotiated in Equity’s collective agreements and set in the Association’s engagement policies are minimums. Your right to negotiate above those minimums is a core privilege of Equity membership.
Consider negotiating for:
Additional compensation
- Increased fees (consider your expertise or specialization, scope of the project, repeated engagements, if this is an out of town gig, other offers, profile of show, or just ask for more…)
- Better accommodations
- Higher per diem
Artistic considerations
- Billing and credit
- Scope of your prep work, role in play development, extra rehearsal days, a better schedule, etc.
Service, access, and inclusion needs
- On-site childcare, nursing room, babysitter costs
- Provisions for family to accompany you
- Non-stairs route to workplace, specialized copy of script, non-gendered bathroom
- Allergies, health/wellness considerations
- Religious/cultural needs (fasting, prayer, dates of respite)
- Car service, cab chits, parking, bus pass, bicycle
- More comps
Working Without an Equity Contract
Equity may grant an Artist permission to work “without reference” to an Equity contract — meaning without:
Minimum fees
Contractual protections
Insurance coverage
RRSP contributions
Working dues
Only an Artist can request permission to work without an Equity contract — not an Engager — and permission is not automatic or guaranteed. An Artist must not accept a role or position without an Equity contract before receiving approval from Equity.