Frequently Asked Questions

Can I be a be a member of more than one union?

Yes. Some Cairn members already belong to other unions (The Musicians Union, Scottish Artists Union, Equity). The only stipulation we make is that you cannot be a Cairn office bearer or committee member if you already hold a similar position with another union.

Is Cairn a certificated Trade Union?

Not yet. Cairn is a not-for-profit member-led collective of professionals working in the performing arts in Scotland. Any group of persons can constitute themselves as a trade union. Article 23.4 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads ‘Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of their interests.’ We are confident Cairn meets the criteria set out by the Certification Officer (the Government body that regulates trade unions in the UK) and we will register to become a certificated Trade Union as soon as practicable, should members decide.

Can I still keep my current Equity Pension number?

Yes. As a member of Cairn, your Equity Pension will not be affected. You will retain your existing pension number and continue to receive employer contributions to the scheme.

As a member of Cairn, can I enrol in the First Act Equity Pension Scheme?

Yes. You do not need to be an Equity member to enrol. Hencilla Canworth, who manage the scheme, clearly state that the EPS is available to ‘all those working in the Creative sector’ and that ‘union membership is NOT required’ (their caps).

Find more information at;

https://hencilla.com/wp-content/uploads/EPS-memberspack.pdf

Enrol in the EPS here;

https://hencilla.com/first-act-equity-pensions-scheme/join-the-eps

How can I protect my professional name?

Other than by legal trademark, it’s difficult to fully protect your professional name (think Brian Cox). It’s often thought that being a member of Equity means that no-one can work in the industry under that name. However, this isn’t the case. Being a member of a union or casting directory only protects your name within that organisation. For example, Equity can guarantee that, as long as you’re a member, they won’t admit another member of the same name. But they cannot stop a non-member from using that name. This is also the case at Spotlight and at Cairn – we guarantee that once you join we won’t admit another member of the same name.

As well as joining Cairn, we recommend subscribing to Spotlight to help ensure that your name will not be duplicated elsewhere.

If you are starting out in the profession, check that your preferred name isn’t already taken in Spotlight & Equity. It’s also useful to check IMDB for duplicate or similar names. A full guide to choosing a professional name will appear in our members’ area soon.

Will I have less favourable conditions at work?

No. You cannot be discriminated against for being a member of Cairn. You have the right to belong to the union you choose, even if it’s not the one your employer negotiates with on pay, terms and conditions. 

For more information on your trade union rights, click here;

https://www.gov.uk/join-trade-union/trade-union-membership-your-employment-rights

Will I still be paid royalties?

Yes. There are two main distributors of royalty payments for artists; Equity Distribution Services (EDS) & The British Equity Collecting Society (BECS). The EDS deals in secondary payments for artists who have been engaged on Equity contracts. All monies are derived from your contract of engagement, not on your condition of membership, and are issued to the agency that represented you for the work being paid. As long as your current and former agent(s) have your payment details, you will continue to receive royalty payments. 

BECS distribute statutory Performers’ Audio-Visual Rights in the UK and abroad but you must be registered to receive payments. It’s free to register here; 

https://becs.org.uk/becs-forms/

Most of my work is out-with Scotland. Can I still have representation?

Yes. We offer our members personal representation regardless of where they are working.  

Can I get Public Liability Insurance through Cairn?

Yes. As an add-on to the basic annual subscription, members can get PLI beginning from as little as £6 per month. However, if you only ever work for an employer (i.e. a theatre company or a production company), you are covered by Employers Liability Insurance and won’t require additional insurance. If you are a workshop leader or occasionally busk, direct or teach, you may need PLI. For more information and to apply for PLI, contact us at info@cairnunion.scot