Deputy Guidelines
The Deputy is an important representative of any – and every – Equity production. The deputy is a member of the Equity company selected by most of the Equity members on Equity contracts (even if there is only one Equity member on Equity contract). As deputy, you serve as the liaison between Actors’ Equity Association and the rest of your Equity company regarding all working conditions. The National Deputy Committee has established these guidelines to assist the deputies in their elected position:
The Deputy’s Role & Responsibility
Equity deputies are responsible for reporting any possible breach of contract by the employer that is brought to their attention to Actors’ Equity Association at the earliest opportunity. They will make best effort to do so within 24 hours. The deputy is not required to make any communication with the employer about said breach. Should a deputy choose to communicate with the employer about a breach, they do so of their own volition – as any member may do – and without any authority implied by their status as a deputy. A communication with an employer does not take the place of reporting a breach to Actors’ Equity Association.
If an employee is undergoing progressive discipline, they may choose to enact their Weingarten rights by having another person attend disciplinary meetings with them. (See #5A below.) The deputy is under no obligation to attend such meetings. They may instead communicate the request to Actors’ Equity Association. Should a deputy choose to attend a disciplinary meeting in support of a colleague, they do so of their own volition – as any member may do – and without any authority implied by their status as a deputy.
Getting Started as a Deputy
Below is a list of things deputies should do on their first day to set themselves up for success:
1. If you have not done so already, register at the Equity member portal. You only need to register once.
2. Know that you can call the Emergency Hotline outside business hours with immediate concerns. That phone number is 888-802-5307.
3. Know that you can call the Harassment and Discrimination Hotline, or provide the information to cast members, whenever you witness or experience harassment or discrimination in the course of your employment.
4. Familiarize yourself with your contract rulebook, paying special attention to rehearsal and performance rules.
5. Get to know the Deputy Resource Center.
6. Look up your Equity Business Representative’s contact information or ask your stage manager
a. Before the end of the next rehearsal day, write an email to your Equity business representative introducing yourself and asking if there are any additional contractual
terms (i.e. Letter of Agreement, concessions, etc.). Please use subject line: NEW EQUITY DEPUTY.
b. Your business representative should respond to your email within one business day. They will notify you of any additional contract terms and activate the “My Show” Tab of your Deputy Resource Center. If you have not heard from them by the end of the third day of rehearsal, please reach out again.
7. Once the "My Show" tab is activated, you can submit an issue through that portal. As an alternative, you can email your business representative directly.
A Deputy’s Working Relationships
...with the stage managers
1. The stage managers are your allies. Build a relationship with them.
2. Remember that if you are the principal deputy (or the only deputy) you are the stage managers’ deputy, too.
...with management
1. Your identity as deputy is not required to be confidential.
2. The deputy is not to interpret a rule or to negotiate with or confront management.
Deputy Role & Responsibility
Equity deputies are responsible for reporting any possible breach of contract by the employer that is brought to their attention to Actors’ Equity Association at the earliest opportunity. They must make best effort to do so within 24 hours. The deputy is not required to make any communication with the employer about said breach. Should a deputy choose to communicate with the employer about a breach, they do so of their own volition - as any member may do - and without any authority implied by their status as a deputy. A communication with an employer does not take the place of a reporting breach to Actors’ Equity Association.
If an employee is undergoing progressive discipline, they may choose to enact their Weingarten rights by having another person attend disciplinary meetings with them. The deputy is under no obligation to attend such meetings. They may instead communicate the request to Actors’ Equity Association. Should a deputy choose to attend a disciplinary meeting in support of a colleague, they do so of their own volition – as any member may do – and without any authority implied by their status as a deputy.