Literature Organizations Subsector

Q: Tables for fair pay salaries and freelance rates

Here you will find the tables with fair pay salaries and freelance rates for workers at literature organizations through 2026. There are also tables with freelance starting rates for performing authors and (spoken word) artists through 2026. Excel - Fair Pay Freelance Starting Rates Literature Organizations, Authors and (Spoken word) Artists et al., Performances. 2023 - 2026 PDF- Fair Pay Freelance Starting Rates Literature Organizations, Authors and (Spoken word) Artists et al., Performances. 2023 - 2026 Excel - Fair Pay Salaries and Freelance Rates Literature Organizations Workers. 2023 - 2026 PDF - Fair Pay Salaries and Freelance Rates Literature Organizations Workers. 2023 - 2026

Q: Calculation tool

Two calculation tools are available. One for workers at literature organizations to calculate salaries and freelance rates through 2026. And one for performing authors and (spoken word) artists. With the latter, you can easily calculate what a fair pay starting rate is for your performance as an author or (spoken word) artist. What is the situation when you write a new text on commission? Does the location affect your rate? And what if you have to prepare and give a workshop? Answer a few questions and immediately see what a fair pay compensation would be for the assignment. You can use this to start negotiations with your client.

Do you work, either as an employee or a freelancer, for a literary festival or event? Do you ever perform or take on writing assignments there? Or do you pay someone else to do so? Then it is important to consider fair pay. For instance, do you know what constitutes an appropriate fee? And which terms of employment apply? If the sector wants to become future-proof, fair pay is an essential condition. FairPACCT helps, providing concrete guidelines and tools.

Workers in the literature sector deserve better

When it comes to fair pay, there is much room for improvement in the world of literature. This is particularly true for those working on commission for literary events, both as employees and as independent contractors.

Some organizations follow a collective labor agreement (CAO) from a comparable sector, while others do not. This results in significant discrepancies between the remuneration of workers in this subsector. Employment conditions also vary considerably. This must change. The entire sector benefits from a stronger position for workers in literature. This also applies to performances and writing assignments by authors and (spoken word) artists. The Literature Organizations chain table is working to address this.

Fair pay,
nothing more than normal.

About the chain table

The chain table was established in July 2022 and consists of ten professionals from the field. Among them are representatives from festival organizations, sector institutes, and advocacy groups. Under the leadership of independent chair Sylvia Dornseiffer, former director of the Dutch Foundation for Literature, the chain table conducts or commissions research and works on concrete guidelines and tools that promote fair pay in this subsector. This applies to both workers and those who perform and/or undertake writing assignments.

Tools & downloads

Job Manual for producing literature organizations

Read how you, as an employer, can apply the reference grid with job descriptions from the manual step-by-step to classify workers clearly and appropriately. The job groups and roles in the reference grid have been specifically drafted for the literature sector.

Appendices:

– Analysis framework
In determining the level of the reference roles, an analysis framework was used that aligns with socially accepted hierarchical relationships.

– Salary structure
Here you will find the salary structure for literature organizations in the literary sector. It is based on the collective labor agreement for theater and dance. This salary structure should be used in conjunction with the established Job Manual.

Standard Scheme for Secondary Employment Conditions

This document outlines what the Fair Practice Code and fair pay specifically mean for the secondary employment conditions of workers at literature organizations in the literary sector. This concerns benefits on top of the salary. Examples include insurance for pensions, disability, travel and study costs, as well as work performed outside regular hours and/or at varying locations.

Guideline for starting rates for authors and (spoken word) artists for performances

Here you will find the starting rates for authors and (spoken word) artists for performances (such as school visits, recitals, workshops, interviews, debates) and any associated writing assignments. This concerns work commissioned by literature organizations: on stages or at other locations, such as schools. The guideline includes an Excel calculation tool created by researchers for determining rates and a checklist for additional agreements.

Tables for fair pay salaries and freelance rates

Here you will find the tables with fair pay salaries and freelance rates for workers at literature organizations through 2026. There are also tables with freelance starting rates for performing authors and (spoken word) artists through 2026.

Calculation tool

Two calculation tools are available. One for workers at literature organizations to calculate salaries and freelance rates through 2026. And one for performing authors and (spoken word) artists. With the latter, you can easily calculate what a fair pay starting rate is for your performance as an author or (spoken word) artist.

What is the situation when you write a new text on commission? Does the location affect your rate? And what if you have to prepare and give a workshop? Answer a few questions and immediately see what a fair pay compensation would be for the assignment. You can use this to start negotiations with your client.