Equity marks International Workers’ Memorial Day with call for the industry to step up on night time safety

Every year trade unionists around the world mark International Workers’ Memorial Day (IWMD) on 28 April. It is a day to remember all those who have died at work and renew our fight for better health and safety conditions for all workers.  

More people are killed each year at work than in wars. Most don’t die of mystery ailments, or in tragic “accidents”, but because an employer decided their safety just wasn’t that important a priority. Unions are fighting back to defend every worker and ensure that safety standards are met.  

Night time safety for performers 

We know that safety is a major concern for Equity members, especially those working in the night time economy, which is why we’re calling for a culture shift in how the industry tackles safety for performers.  

Performing artists such as cabaret artistes, comedians, stage management and singers can be vulnerable when working at night, especially when working alone. Their work can include leaving venues late at night, parking and loading out in insecure locations with expensive and/or cumbersome equipment and a lack of personal security.  

Our recent survey of nightlife performers in London revealed that:  

• 33% of respondents feel less safe travelling to and from a gig now than in previous years.
• 90% of respondents said that promotors/venues rarely or never provide a taxi home late at night as a safety provision.
• 29% of respondents feel less safe at work than in previous years.
• When asking for any further comments about safety a significant number of people commented about violence, aggression and sexual assault.
• 28% of responses explicitly describe an increase in transphobia, misogyny, homophobia, racism or far right sentiment in their working life. Experiencing regular instances of violence, aggression, and inappropriate touching.
• Sexual Assault of workers is so normalised and anticipated even, that one person suggested charging an extra fee to venues who don’t have security, “to compensate for potential sexual assault (which happens far too often)”. 

We are calling on the industry to put performers’ safety first, not treat it as an afterthought.   

Embedding protections in agreements 

Our new union agreement with Manchester Pride includes protections to ensure members get home safely. The agreement says that if no changing rooms are available the performer can request a taxi to and from the festival so no one is having to use public transport in drag.  

Safe Home campaign 

Equity’s Safe Home campaign has called on venues to safeguard performing artists who work at night or in vulnerable locations in Northern Ireland. The campaign asks venue owners and managers to agree to certain principles including that artists will be provided with reputable taxi firm numbers to arrange their transport or will be provided with a free car parking space on request. Belfast City Council recently pledged £10,000 in support of this campaign which will fund the creation of an online video resource, hard copy Safe Home posters for Belfast venues outlining their commitment to the principles and a website listing of those who have signed up across the city.  

Watch out for more on our Safe Home campaign in the coming months and how you can get involved. 

Other ways we’re campaigning on safety 

• Last year an Equity motion calling for government action to prevent sexual harassment on public transport was passed unanimously at the TUC Women’s Conference. The motion highlighted the risks for women working in the performing arts sector who often rely on late-night travel as part of their working lives. 
• In 2025, Equity joined the Justice for Heklina campaign, to seek answers regarding the death of drag artist, Heklina. Heklina, born Stephen Grygelko, was found dead at a flat in Soho on 3 April 2023 and had been performing in a show at Soho Theatre at the time of their death. The case is illustrative of the rise of safety fears for LGBTQ+ nighttime workers, particularly drag and variety members who are facing increasingly inhospitable working conditions in London due to the rapid decline of small venues, rising homophobic and transphobic violence and low levels of trust in the Metropolitan Police Force.