UK entertainment union Equity recommends minimum rates for game performers for the first time

The UK’s performing arts and entertainment trade union Equity has set recommended minimum rates for video game performers for the first time.

The move is part of Equity’s Game On campaign, which is designed to “fight for better pay, terms and conditions for UK performers working in video games”.

The recommended minimum rates, which are intended for performers working on AAA titles, include £300 per hour for voiceover work, £1000 per day for ensemble recording, a maxium of two hours per session for “vocally stressful” voice work.

According to Equity, the publication of the rates “is intended to address systemic low pay for performers working in video games in the UK, where pay has stagnated and not kept up with the rate of inflation”.

It also claims that performer pay in the UK is “significantly lower than in the United States and Canada, despite Equity members being engaged by the same global companies”.

Prior legislation prevented Equity from publishing recommended minimum rates when there was no collectively bargained agreement, the union claims.

“The strength of feeling from union members to improve the current state of play in games is palpable,” said Shannon Sailing, Equity’s industrial official for audio and video games.

“An industry valued at £7.82bn and that is in receipt of tax relief must recognise the value that its workforce brings to the games industry. Our members are no longer going to sit back and accept low rates of pay, unsafe working environments and poor terms and conditions.

“We are encouraging our members to know their value, and demand change now to ensure that the UK games industry continues to be recognised in the global games market.”

Further reading

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Video game actors confirm strike action over AI

SAG-AFTRA union had been negotiating with major video game publishers for 18 months

Equity’s rates arrive in the midst of an ongoing strike by its US-based sister union SAG-AFTRA, whose members have been on strike since July 26 after it failed to negotiate acceptable protections around the use of AI.

“Many of the issues experienced by SAG-AFTRA members are shared by Equity members, such as the threat of artificial intelligence,” Equity says.

“However, unlike in the US, there is no collectively bargained agreement in the UK with video games companies to set union-agreed minimum rates and pay performers fairly.”