Arts Centre Melbourne workers accept 13% over three years, after two strikes against a 3% offer

When we covered the second strike at Arts Centre Melbourne in September, workers were holding out against a 3% offer. It's over. Union members have voted for 13% over three years: 5% in the first year, then 4 and 4.

The deal is an enterprise agreement, the Australian contract that sets pay and conditions for the staff it covers. Three unions endorsed it, including the MEAA, which covers performers, dancers, musicians and crew. They say the vote was overwhelming. They haven't said by how much.

To give you an idea of the gap: the Victorian government's wages policy funds public-sector pay rises at 3% a year, and the unions set out to beat it. Every year of the new deal does. According to the unions, almost 40% of the roughly 900 staff are on the lowest pay band.

So how did they get there? Two 24-hour strikes in September. The first shut every show at the venue and pushed Macy Gray's Hamer Hall concert to October. The second fell on the night Zerial, an aerial show, lost its performance.

"For the first time in decades, Arts Centre Melbourne ushers, food and beverage staff, customer service representatives, box office crew, sound and lighting techs, stage managers, rigging and backstage crew voted to take stop work action," said MEAA Acting Chief Executive Adam Portelli. Front of house and backstage stopped together.

Workers also get a one-off $4,350, paid pro rata, so not everyone gets the full amount. New leave covers reproductive health, disability support and gender affirmation. Parental leave loses its qualifying period: staff no longer have to work there for a set time before taking it.

Arts Centre Melbourne hasn't commented on the deal in any report we found. Portelli calls it a win "for arts workers across Victoria", and ArtsHub asks whether it could set a new benchmark for arts wages.