Almost 30 employers across Scotland’s creative industries – all of whom are organisations regularly funded by Creative Scotland -have signed a trade union pledge, the “Fair Work for Freelancers checklist”, setting out basic measures for what fair work should mean in the sector. The Scottish Book Trust has also endorsed the pledge, which calls for greater pay security, clearer guidance on royalties and better access for trade unions.  

The pledge was developed as part of the Freelance and Forgotten report created by the Scottish Trade Union Council (STUC) Creative Unions Group, which the SoA is part of. This report is in response to the Scottish Government’s Fair Work Framework and is based on findings from surveying members of the SoA in Scotland and other creative unions. The survey found that: 

• 69% of respondents have experienced issues relating to late payment for work.  

• 33% have not been paid for freelance work undertaken. 

• 57% have rarely or never undertaken freelance work that presented fair royalties and/or intellectual property allocations. 

• 83% have seen a real term fall in earnings in recent years. 

• 53% have experienced, or seen, bullying, harassment or sexual harassment. 

In the report, the Creative Unions Group presented its checklist of bare minimum measures for what fair work should mean in the creative industries.   

Support for the report’s recommendations is growing – organisations that have signed the pledge include Dundee Contemporary Arts; A Play, A Pie, A Pint (Glasgow Lunchtime Theatres) and the Stove Network in Dumfries. MSPs have also proposed motions in favour of the report and it was included in the recommendations of the Culture Fair Work Taskforce for the Scottish Government.   

Sam Gonçalves, SoA’s Senior Policy Manager (Scotland), said:

“The findings of our survey with members of creative unions in Scotland are shocking but not surprising. If the Scottish Government is serious about making Scotland a nation of Fair Work, it must be prepared to listen to authors, artists and cultural workers, and address the deteriorating standards of pay, security and respect across the country.  

“We welcome the endorsement of the checklist by multi-year funded organisations, including Scottish Book Trust. This is an essential first step in supporting authors and their livelihoods across the country.”

Marlene Curran, National Official for Equity, added: 

“Insecurity, low pay, bullying and harassment are driving creatives out of the sector. This threatens to leave a cultural void at a time when Scotland needs its creative voices most. This checklist offers a framework to ensure security, opportunity and respect for freelance workers.”

Alongside the Society of Authors, unions behind the Freelance and Forgotten report include Equity, BECTU, Musicians’ Union, Scottish Artists Union, Society of Playwrights, Writers’ Guild and the National Union of Journalists.