Equity, Sir Robert at odds

Press, 19 April 1986, Page 1

Equity, Sir Robert at odds

PA Wellington Sir Robert Muldoon’s refusal to join Actors Equity for a TVNZ series could threaten his performing in a stage production, the rock musical, “The Rocky Horror Show.” Sir Robert has signed for the part of narrator for Auckland performances of the musical. He said that he would not join Actors Equity for his part in the television series, “Terry and The Gunrunners,” because the fee was out of proportion to the service given. The national secretary of Equity, Ms Susan Ord, said yesterday that Sir Robert could not be forced to join Equity over the television series because TVNZ was exempt from the Industrial Relations Act. But the union would invoke the act if Sir Robert refused to pay the fee for playing in “The Rocky Horror Show."

“Of course we may find the show does not go on because the other members working there may decide not to work alongside non-union labour,” she said.

Equity’s Auckland office had sent an invitation to Sir Robert to join, but Ms Ord was not sure whether he had received it yet.

“We will presume that Sir Robert will reply to that letter,” she said. “On the basis of Sir Robert’s response we will — one way or other — get in touch with him next week.”

The issue was related to Sir Robert’s planned appearance on' “The Rocky Horror Show,” and not to his part in an episode of the television series "Terry and the Gunrunners,” which will be shown tomorrow. “He worked as a performer last year and he is getting work this year, so by union rules he must join,” Ms Ord said. Equity fees are based on the previous year’s earnings a performer. The rate is $65 for a person who earned under $3OOO, and $lOO for a person who earned more than $3OOO.