ACTRA Maritimes Blog

Nova Scotia Conciliation January 19th

Tomorrow, January 19th, representatives from ACTRA and the CFTPA meet with Mr. Charles Weir, the conciliator for the Nova Scotia government. This meeting is one of the final requirements of Nova Scotia labour legislation before ACTRA can legally strike in this province.

A Message from the National President

 January 15, 2007 – We enter the second week of the first strike in ACTRA’s history.  Talks are going on behind the scenes.  Sensible people are doing their best to craft a deal and to stabilize the industry, but the negotiators for the trade associations of the producers are taking us to Superior Court in Ontario to argue that ACTRA has no right to strike, and to contest our status as a trade union. They want to claim that they made ACTRA fold.

This is certainly not something to celebrate and there’s a lot of cause for apprehension. Speaking personally, I’m not happy we had to go this far in our fully committed attempt to get a fair IPA deal, and I never planned to be in the Chair for ACTRA’s first-ever strike. But that is the grand sum of my own unease. I can tell you that everyone involved in these negotiations, from the members of our awe-inspiring committee, the entire National Council, all the essential staff involved from ACTRA’s Toronto and Montreal Branches and from our National office, our world-class head negotiator and our legal counsel have had their own moments of anxiety. We are human; we recognize the responsibility resting upon us. We have to live up to the trust of all our members. Yet I can tell you that when we look back over some very difficult days, we are all fully behind our actions. More »

Strike Update from Branch President

      Dear members of ACTRA Maritimes,

In the interests of clarity, I am writing to you (and then also sending out a phone message on Monday 15th, to catch those without internet access) to update you on some important facts about the ACTRA strike.

• We will NOT be in a legal strike position in the Maritimes until both sides (ACTRA and the producers’ associations) meet with our provincial conciliator. Shortly after that meeting, the conciliator will give us the go-ahead that we need to be in a legal strike position, joining Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. We are waiting for that meeting to take place shortly. More »

ACTRA Montreal joins strike

ACTRA is in a legal strike position in Quebec as of today, January 10, 2007.  There are no picket lines however, as all Quebec productions have signed interim agreements.
 
“Like Toronto, there are no work disruptions or picket lines because all the productions scheduled to shoot have signed interim agreements with ACTRA, and all cameras are rolling today,” said Raymond Guardia, ACTRA’s Regional Director.
 
“Interim agreements are flooding into our office,” said Matt Holland, President of ACTRA Montreal. “ACTRA Montreal members may be on strike, but all who were scheduled to work are working today – for increased wages and benefits.” More »

Get real, viewers, you don’t work for free

The Globe and Mail

January 10, 2007

by JOHN DOYLE

At the time I’m writing this, ACTRA is on strike.

To judge by the reaction, I’m amazed that many members of the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists don’t just give up and try a line of work that draws less contempt from the great, intolerant Canadian public.

The union, which represents 21,000 film, television and radio workers across Canada, is officially on strike in three provinces. It’s a confusing matter because that doesn’t mean TV, film and radio production has shut down. Many productions have signed “continuation letters,” agreeing to the demands of the union, which includes a 5-per-cent increase in wages to performers, plus better benefits.

More money for Canadian performers is certainly part of the dispute that led to the first strike by ACTRA in its 64 years. But it’s only part of it. In negotiations with the Canadian Film and Television Production Association, representing producers, the key issue is ACTRA members being paid for work circulating on the Internet, on cellphones and other “new” media. On Monday, the head of ACTRA said, “What the producers want is the right to distribute our members work, worldwide on the Internet, for free. That’s not acceptable.”

The issue seems clear enough — ACTRA members refuse to work for free in media that are used increasingly by the public to access various forms of entertainment. Exactly what the producers group feels is not as clear. It appears they have two beefs. First, they claim ACTRA is asking too much in compensation for work in new media. Second, it says it will go to court to challenge the legality of a strike that, in reality, has not really happened yet — sic the lawyers on those uppity losers is the gist. More »

National Strike Update #1

Contained in this update:

1. ACTRA is on strike
2. Why negotiations ended
3. Productions rush to sign interim agreements
4. SAG supports ACTRA strike
5. ACTRA Toronto members: sign up for picket duty

“Professional performers don’t work for free. Not on TV. Not on film.
And not on the internet.” – Wendy Crewson and Eric Peterson

More »

United Steelworkers Support ACTRA Strike

TORONTO – United Steelworkers’ (USW) National Director Ken Neumann said Tuesday that the first strike in 64 years by Canada’s film and television performers would not have begun if independent producers recognized the value they get from Canadian performers.

“Some producers have already come to their senses and signed interim agreements with the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA,) which allows current productions to continue,” said Neumann. “But the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA) is reacting by threatening to take ACTRA to court, not only calling the agreements illegal, but even calling into question ACTRA’s right to represent actors.”

More »

CEP, NABET support ACTRA strike

OTTAWA, Jan. 9 /CNW Telbec/ – The association representing Canadian film and television producers needs to bring its bargaining positions into the 21st century, says Canada’s largest media union.

“Canadian actors should be reading lines not walking them. This strike is a disgrace which falls directly at the foot of the CFTPA,” says Peter Murdoch, Vice-President, Media, for the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada. ACTRA, the union representing professional performers, went on strike yesterday with the issue of pay for new technology being central to the dispute.

“The suggestion that talent should not be fairly paid for work simply because it shows up on a new media is thinking out of the middle ages. If studios and production companies are earning revenue from new technology, it makes sense that those providing the content do also.

“Canadian talent is rightfully not prepared to walk backward in an age when media technology is moving forward.”

CEP and its Toronto-based film and television production local are in full support of the position taken by ACTRA.

“Our members run the risk of being affected by this dispute,” says Jonathan Ahee, President of NABET/CEP Local 700, the Canadian technicians’ union, “but we know ACTRA’s position is fair, reasonable and not too costly for producers. We’re with them.” Murdoch says CFTPA should rethink its hard line and get back to the bargaining table before too much damage is done to the production industry.

Message From Branch President

Dear members of ACTRA Maritimes, 

I am an actor. It is my chosen career. As a professional actor I am part of this union: it represents me, guides me and fights for me.

ACTRA has begun the first strike ever in our 64-year history. This strike is essentially my union shouting out for me; telling producers who think I should earn less, who want my work available on the internet for free, that they will not let that happen.

The CFTPA/APFTQ came to the bargaining table wanting to cut our pay by 25%, cut away at our working conditions and residuals.

ACTRA brought to the table proposals designed to maintain stability and predictability in this industry while improving working conditions. Our representatives proposed gradual increases in pay and the quality of working conditions of our members.

Across the country your brothers and sisters (actors like you and me) are taking a sharp intake of breath as we gather together to protest these unacceptable attacks on our livelihoods and income. We are not alone. You are not alone.

Be strong, talk about this situation with everyone you know. We are not a militant group of politicos whining about our sad, privileged lives. We are professionals being asked to work more for less. That’s it, in a nutshell.

I have faith that our representatives leading us through this dark time have our best interests at heart; that they are guiding us wisely and with courage. I support them 100%.

Your Branch Council will meet shortly and begin organizing our first response and, once we are in a legal position to join the strike, action. Please contact our branch office if you are offered IPA work.

Remember, this is your career (either in part, or whole) that is being threatened.
Visit www.actramaritimes.ca regularly for updates on how events are proceeding.

In solidarity

Jeremy Webb
Branch President
ACTRA Maritimes

Message from National Vice-president

Dear Fellow ACTRA Maritimes members,

Here we are in the first day of something we have never done before; the professional performers of Canada are on strike.

This is the most important moment of our union’s life and two items loom over our heads:

One is wages.

Originally, the CFTPA/APFTQ wanted us to take a 25% cut in our minimum rate. It was outrageous and ACTRA members would not stand for it; especially in the present industry atmosphere of very little negotiation on individual performer contracts.

Two is digital media, which includes the internet, cell phone and PDA broadcasting plus whatever inventions are to come. This has the greatest impact on all our careers and the careers of young and future ACTRA members.

Right now, the only way to make money on the internet is either on eBay or by selling pornography. In the near future, though, who knows where the internet and other digital platforms will be.

The next thing will be flowing television programs directly from the internet onto our television sets. If we lose our fight over this issue, there will be no residuals for anyone. That’s money that should be ours.

The producers’ associations want us to give up that right.

I encourage you to be informed. Please read the actra.ca website, watch the ACTRA press conference that was held today (January 8, 2007), talk to each other in person and on this blog, call the office, call or email me or President Jeremy Webb if you have any questions.

We ACTRA members must not stand by and allow anyone to tell us we do not deserve what we have worked over our 64 years to accomplish.

In Solidarity,

Jamie Bradley

National Councilor, ACTRA Maritimes

National Vice President, ACTRA