TRADE UNION

1. Aims and Objectives

The Plan 9 Trade Union was founded:

1.1 To protect the rights of freelance Artworkers.
1.2 To ensure freelance Artworkers are treated fairly by their employers.
1.3 To negotiate good and fair working conditions for Plan 9 Trade Union members.
1.4 To acknowledge the hidden art economy endemic in all major art institutions, which is staffed and visited by artworkers, and without which art institutions would struggle to find such gifted and qualified workers.

2. Terms and Conditions for the employment of Plan 9 Trade Union members

The following terms and conditions apply only to the employment of Plan 9 Trade Union members at the Far West Metro Store, between 27 June 2008 and 24 July 2008 inclusive. Far West Metro Store hours are Tues-Sat, 10am-6pm and Sun, 11-5pm.

2.1 Pay
2.1.1 Plan 9 Trade Union members are to be paid £7 per hour.
2.1.2 Plan 9 Trade Union members are to be treated as freelance Artworkers, and will invoice Relational for their fee at the end of the project.
2.1.3 Payment for services rendered to be paid within two weeks of the invoice date.
2.1.4 There is a total of 13 hours pay available for Plan 9 Trade Union members to attend meetings and training associated with the Far West Metro Store project.

2.2 Leave
2.2.1 Short-term, part-time shift workers are unfairly treated when it comes to leave and sick pay, often being unable to claim these basic rights due to the short term nature of their employment. Plan 9 Trade Union seeks to right this wrong.
2.2.2 Plan 9 Trade Union members are entitled to the following paid leave, on a pro rata basis:
- Holiday leave (20 days per annum, pro rata)
2.2.3 Recognised trade union officials are entitled to paid time off to undertake their duties. It is agreed that the two Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards are entitled to 0.25day each paid time off to undertake official Trade Union duties.


2.3 Job Title
2.3.1 Plan 9 Trade Union members to be referred to as Artworkers for the duration of the project.

2.4 Staffing
2.4.1 Plan 9 Trade Union is made up of members of Plan 9 and Plan 9 interns. Plan 9 reserve the right to co-opt Arnolfini invigilators into the Plan 9 Trade Union if the need arises.
2.4.2 The Far West Metro Store is a closed shop - only Plan 9 Trade Union members are to be employed within the store.
2.4.3 One Plan 9 Trade Union member is to be employed at the Far West Metro Store at all times it is open. After a period of one week, the staffing situation is to be reviewed by the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards and Relational. If it is felt by the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards that there are times within opening hours, or particular days, when a second worker is needed, Relational will supply a second worker. The second worker is to be either a Plan 9 Trade Union artworker or from Management (Zoe Shearman, Director of Relational). Although the staffing of the Far West Metro Store is a closed shop, to be staffed by Plan 9 Trade Union members only, Plan 9 Trade Union recognise that Management have the right to work on the shop floor, though Plan 9 Trade Union would like it noted that this takes paid employment away from Plan 9 Trade Union members.

2.5 Working Conditions
2.5.1 Plan 9 Trade Union members are entitled to two paid 15 minute breaks and one paid half hour break per shift. As Plan 9 Trade Union members will, on the whole, be staffing the store on their own, it is agreed that for the two 15 minute breaks, the Artworkers may shut the store. Relational will provide an appropriate shop closing/opening sign to show the public when the shop will next be open. For the half hour dinner break, Zoe Shearman (Relational) will relieve the Artworker each day.
2.5.2 Fairtrade tea and coffee; organic semi-skimmed milk; organic soya milk (unsweetened); biscuits are to be provided by Relational for the duration of the project.
2.5.3 A radio is to be supplied by Relational, which can be listened to, with headphones, when there are no customers.
2.5.4 A subscription to Socialist Worker to be provided by Relational for the duration of the Far West Metro Project.
2.5.5 Plan 9 Trade Union members, whilst they will do their upmost to maintain the shop, its contents and fixtures and fittings, are not responsible for any breakages, damage or thefts.
2.5.6 Plan 9 Trade Union members reserve the right to express themselves artistically should they wish to do so. It is agreed if their artistic expressions are to alter the shop contents or fixtures in anyway, permission must first be sought in writing from Management (Relational).
2.5.7 Plan 9 Trade Union members reserve the right to deal appropriately with any rude or aggressive costumers. Relational to provide Artworkers with strategies to deal with rude or aggressive custumers.
2.5.8 Relational to provide Artworkers with written Health and Safety guidelines.
2.5.9 Zoe Shearman, Nav Haq and Tom Trevor are to visit the Far West Metro Store at least once, to meet the Artworkers.

2.6 Physical Environment
2.6.1 Interested Plan 9 Trade Union members are to be involved in the initial discussions of the layout of the Far West Metro Store and its contents.
2.6.2 Plan 9 Trade Union members may wish to re-configure the Far West Metro Store. These requests are to be brought up at the weekly meetings between the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards and Relational, and agreed by Relational, before being acted on.

2.7 Staff Benefits
2.7.1 Plan 9 Trade Union members, on production of their Plan 9 Trade Union card, are to receive free cinema tickets at the Arnolfini for the duration of the Far West Metro Store project.
2.7.2 Plan 9 Trade Union members, on production of their Plan 9 Trade Union card, are to receive a 20% discount in the Arnolfini bookshop for the duration of the Far West Metro Store project.
2.7.3 Plan 9 Trade Union members to receive a regular staff discount (exact percentage to be confirmed) on any Far West artworks they may wish to purchase from the Arnolfini.
2.7.4 Interested Plan 9 Trade Union members are to be invited to meet any Far West artists that visit Bristol before, during and after the Far West project. Nav Haq (Arnolfini) to inform Plan 9 Shop Stewards when visiting artists are in Bristol, and suggest meeting dates and times.
2.7.5 Relational and Arnolfini to arrange a Workers Day Out to Weston-super-Mare at the end of the Far West Metro Store project. Members of the Senior Management Teams at Relational and Arnolfini are encouraged to accompany Plan 9 Trade Union members on the Workers Day Out. Other workers at Relational and Arnolfini are also welcome to come along. Plan 9 Trade Union members will pay their own expenses for the trip. Relational and Arnolfini must set a date (in consultation with the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards) for the trip by Monday 7 July 2008.

2.8 Administration
2.8.1 Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards are to have access to the Arnolfini photocopier at any time during the Far West Metro Store project.
2.8.2 There are to be paid weekly meetings between Relational and Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards, in order to ensure the project is running smoothly, and that Plan 9 Trade Union members are being treated fairly and with dignity. Where possible, these meetings are to be held within the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards shifts at the Far West Metro Store, or payment is to come out of the designated 13 hours extra pay available to Plan 9 Trade Union members for meetings and training etc.
2.8.3 Plan 9 Trade Union to be added to Arnolfini’s stewards emailing list for the duration of the Far West Metro Store project.
2.8.4 Details of Plan 9 Trade Union’s involvement in the Far West Metro Store project to be included on the Arnolfini website. A link to Plan 9’s website also to be included on Arnolfini’s website.
2.8.5 Relational to send out an e-media release on Plan 9 Trade Union’s involvement in the Far West Metro Store project in advance of the project (3/4 weeks before the Far West Metro Store opens). Copy for this email to be provided be approved by Plan 9 Trade Union.
2.8.6 Plan 9 Trade Union will also produce their own press and publicity on their involvement in the Far West Metro Store project, to be disseminated through their own channels. All copy to be shown to Management (Relational) before being made public.
2.8.7 Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards will be in charge of the staffing rota for the Far West Metro Store. The rota is to be sent to Management (Relational) 3/4 weeks before the Far West Metro Store opens. Relational also to be informed in any changes in the rota.


Whole of 2.9 deleted

2.9 Research and Development
Plan 9 and Plan 9 Trade Union are committed to furthering critical exchange and dialogue. To this end Plan 9 and Plan Trade Union propose:
2.9.1 Zoe Shearman and Nav Haq, or Zoe Shearman and Tom Trevor to hold a special walk round tour of Far West at the Arnolfini (and an optional tour of the Far West Metro Store), for a group of guests invited by Plan 9 Trade Union. Guests will be invited from:
- Bristol China Partnership
- Bristol Tibet Group
- Business West
- Bristol & Bath Contemporary Art Collectors Society
- Bristol City Council Community Art Officer
- Bristol Alliance/Broadmead Board
- BETU Trade Union official
- Wai Yee Hong Chinese Supermarket
2.9.2 The walk round to be 2 July 2008 at 10.30am.
2.9.3 Plan 9, Relational and Arnolfini to send a joint invite to the participants, sent via Tom Trevor (Arnolfini) via email. Plan 9 Trade Union to supply the text of the invite - Relational and Arnolfini to then contribute to the wording. All parties must agree the invite wording before it is sent out. Invites to be sent out 3 weeks before the tour date.
2.9.4 Plan 9 Trade Union members will talk to the invited guests during and after the walk round tour, gathering their thoughts on the Far West project.
2.9.5 Plan 9 Trade Union will produce a pamphlet examining their position as artists within the Far West Project; the evolving negotiations with management; discussions between Plan 9 Trade Union members; and thoughts from the above invited guests. The said pamphlet will then be made available to the public through the Arnolfini, the Far West Metro Store and Plan 9. The pamphlet is also to be made available to download from both the Arnolfini’s (subsequent to approval from Arnolfini) and Plan 9’s website.

2.10 Miscellaneous
2.10.1 All Arnolfini invigilators are to be offered Plan 9 badges to wear whilst working at Arnolfini, for the duration of the Far West Metro Store project. Plan 9 badges will be provided by Plan 9 Trade Union. Plan 9 Trade Union will also provide Plan 9 badges to all other Arnolfini and Relational staff, to wear if they wish to do so.
2.10.2 If, whilst wearing the Plan 9 badges, Arnolfini staff are asked about Plan 9, they can give the questioner details of what Plan 9 is, where it is situated, and what Plan 9’s next exhibition/project is. They may wish to inform the questioner about Plan 9 Trade Union.
2.10.3 Publicity for Plan 9 upcoming exhibitions and events to be displayed prominently in the Arnolfini Reading Room and the Far West Metro Store.
2.10.4 Arnolfini and Relational, from henceforth, are to refrain from calling artists ‘local’.


2.11 Strike Action
2.11.1 Plan 9 Trade Union reserve the right to take strike action if any of the above terms and conditions are not met by Relational and Arnolfini. Every single term and condition must be met by Relational and Arnolfini in order to avoid strike action.
2.11.2 Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards will give Relational and Arnolfini 36 hours to correct any lapses in the agreed terms and conditions. If the corrections are not carried out within the 36 hour period, or are not to the satisfaction of the Plan 9 Trade Union Shop Stewards, Plan 9 Trade Union members will go out on strike until the situation is remedied.

2.11.3 If Plan 9 Trade Union members do go out on strike, they will picket the Far West Metro Store and will endeavour to not allow any non-Plan 9 Trade Union members to cross the picket line.