More than 100 staff working across two Glasgow theatres have been left without pay while the venues are closed due to covid.
Those on zero-hour and casual contracts with ATG Theatres, who supply staff for the King's Theatre and Theatre Royal, are facing having no income for a whole month following the closure on Christmas eve.
ATG Theatres suggested that staff could use holiday hours to help ease their financial burden while the venues are closed.
Around 150 workers are believed to be currently without pay while waiting for the venues to reopen.
The Scottish Government announced a financial package worth £31.5 million for cultural businesses, organisations, and venues at the start of the year.
The funding is specifically for organisations that have lost income due to cancellation or deferral of performances or cultural activity as a result of the necessary steps taken to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
Guidance for the Cancellation Fund for Cultural Organisation is expected to be published on Wednesday, with applications opening on January 26 - more than a month after the closures first came into force.
Workers told Glasgow Live: "Theatres had to close from Christmas eve until (hopefully) January 23. We of course understand why this needed to happen and fully support the decision for theatre closures to help stop the spread of the virus.
"During this time ATG Theatres made the decision that they would not pay zero/casual workers as we would not be able to be called for work during this time frame and as a result of this, we will be left without a months worth of pay. Despite theatres in other parts of the UK being operational, we would have thought help would have been given to us by ATG.
"The festive period is the theatre’s busiest time and a lot of workers rely on this time to earn more money than they usually would. I can’t explain to you how fraught this has made us, this affects roughly 150 staff members across both venues."
Nicola Sturgeon previously said that she hoped to lift the protective measures placed on indoor live events from January 24. The change is expected to be confirmed in a statement this week.
A spokesperson for King’s Theatre and Theatre Royal, part of Ambassador Theatre Group said: "When the Scottish Government announced restrictions on indoor events on December 21, Glasgow theatres were put in the position of having to close their doors from December 26. This meant, regrettably, that any staff on hourly flexible contracts could not be called for shifts because there were now no performances. In order to mitigate the impact on individuals, staff were paid holiday for the period.
"These restrictions have had an enormous impact on theatres and other indoor venues, effectively closing them down at the busiest time of year and turning them into loss-making businesses. ATG has been in constant contact with the Scottish Government and Creative Scotland to lobby for urgent funding to compensate for losses brought about by the closure. At the time of writing, we still await details of the funding and who will be eligible to apply."
