ACTRA Maritimes Blog

Ratification Meeting March 6th

Well, the dust is settling now that our first-ever strike is over.   We now have a new Independent Production Agreement to ratify.

In order to brief you on the details of the agreement, an information session will be held on March 6th at 7pm at the Harbour Suites of the Westin Nova Scotian Hotel on Hollis St in Halifax (the same room where we held our Strike Information Meeting.)

The meeting will give you a detailed picture of the changes and gains achieved in the IPA and answer any questions that you might have. 

Please try to attend.

The Strike Is Over!

ACTRA’s first national strike is finally over.

Your bargaining committee believes we did very well. We are unanimously recommending that ACTRA members ratify this new collective agreement.

Producers accepted ACTRA’s bottom-line pay demand: Members will receive a 10% increase in compensation over three years: 9% into pay and 1% into benefits.

On the internet, Canadian producers will begin paying 3.6% of any internet revenues, accounted for in a separate stream, from first dollar. American producers will track internet revenues, pay interest on them and pay sums owed retroactively after we finalize internet terms with them about 24 months from now.

ACTRA negotiated some significant improvements in the work rules governing our time on set. An outline of what was negotiated – the gains and the gives – is online at www.actra.ca

ACTRA AND PRODUCERS REACH NEW AGREEMENT

Toronto February 21, 2007 – Following several days of negotiations the Canadian Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ) and ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) today announced that they have reached a renewed Independent Production Agreement (IPA). 

This deal is a win-win for Producers and ACTRA Members.

Key elements of the agreement:

- Producers have agreed to ACTRA’s wage proposal. Performers will receive a 10% increase in compensation over the new agreement’s three-year term.

- Performers will be compensated for the use of their work on the internet. Producers will share 3.6% of revenues received from the use of productions on the internet, tracked separately. The parties agreed on how producers will compensate performers appearing in productions specifically produced for the internet. An agreed provision will allow certain producers to accumulate use fee payments until a “re-opener” two years from now.

- Producers and ACTRA have reached agreement on a number of important improvements to work rules on set, including improved language governing equal opportunities for employment, harassment, rules governing child performers, and working conditions on set.

- Incentives provided in the agreement to encourage low-budget, 100% Canadian independent production were updated. Budget thresholds to qualify for these incentives and other terms were brought up to date.

- Rules governing the number of background performers were nationally harmonized, providing more of a level playing field in this area between Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Under the new rules producers working under the IPA in major centres will hire 25 background performers for large-budget features, and 20 for most other productions.

- The agreement sets out new terms for “reality” programming. The new terms make it clearer which performers in such shows are included in rates and terms; sets up a fee system geared to the way reality shows are produced; and provides a uniform use fee appropriate to this type of production.
 

The three-year agreement is subject to ratification, however the agreed-upon rates take effect immediately.

This collective agreement covers all the terms and conditions of employment with respect to all film and television production in Canada, except for British Columbia which has a separate collective agreement. 
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community. 

The CFTPA is a non-profit trade organization that works on behalf of almost 400 companies engaged in the production and distribution of English-language television programs, feature films, and interactive media products in all regions of Canada.

The APFTQ represents more than 130 independent film and television production companies in Quebec.  These corporations are specialized in feature film, advertising film and any genre of TV production (animation, drama, documentary, variety). The Association negotiates all collective agreements with artists and technicians associations and acts on behalf of its members with government and industry organizations.

Strike is suspended.

Given the signing of tentative Terms of Settlement with the CFTPA and APFTQ, the first strike in ACTRA’s history is now suspended pending ratification of the Terms of Settlement by the Parties. 

Thank you.

Stephen A. Waddell

The Strike Continues…

We have been receiving some anxious inquiries about the continuation of the strike. To clear up any confusion, be advised:

- ACTRA and the CFTPA reached a tentative deal on Friday last.

- Shortly thereafter, the US studios announced that they would not abide by this settlement, even though it had been agreed to by their bargaining agent – the CFTPA.

- ACTRA is in negotiations to find a way around this impasse.

- ACTRA is cautiously optimistic that these matters will be resolved very soon.

Meanwhile, however, the strike continues. Any work done by ACTRA members under the IPA must be for producers who have signed interim agreements. Please note that as of this writing, Trailer Park Boys had not signed such an agreement – so performers must not show up for ADR work until further notice.

Optimisitic… But Cautious

On Friday ACTRA and the CFTPA reached a tentative agreement on a new IPA. The tentative agreement includes a 10 per cent compensation agreement; new terms on the internet; and a number of other agreed points.

Late Friday the CFTPA reported that this agreement, which was built around a set of proposals advanced by the CFTPA itself during federal mediation, had not yet been endorsed by the US studios who are being represented by the CFTPA in these talks.

ACTRA’s negotiating committee is cautiously optimistic that remaining questions from US studios about settlement proposals put forward by their own bargaining agent (the CFTPA) in these federally-mediated negotiations will be addressed as the agreement is finalized in coming days.

The agreement provides members with a 10 per cent pay increase over the next three years.

But given how this has all gone so far, “cautious” as well as “optimism” are both appropriate.

ACTRA and the CFTPA will meet first thing Monday morning to complete the details of the terms of settlement and to discuss next steps.

We’ll keep members posted.

All interim agreements remain in force. ACTRA’s job action remains in effect until the terms of settlement are finalized.

Tentative Agreement Reached

TENTATIVE AGREEMENT

A tentative agreement was reached today on a new IPA.

ACTRA won its points on every issue being fought in the strike.

We achieved our full pay demand.

The agreement provides members with a 10 per cent pay increase over the next three years — the largest pay increase achieved by a Canadian film and television union in at least seven years.

The internet won’t be free.

Residuals will be due to performers on internet use from first dollar – the first time ACTRA has achieved SAG-style residuals in a major use category (with one exception: dramatic productions like webisodes, made specifically for the internet, will have a six-month basic declared use period prior to residuals. All other productions — ie conventional productions sold through the internet — will pay residuals from first dollar).

A “reopener” provision will allow the parties to revisit these terms after the Screen Actors’ Guild has negotiated its next agreement. ACTRA will use this clause to seek further improved internet terms should SAG achieve them.

Other key deal points:

* ACTRA adjusted its low-budget terms to promote independent Canadian production.

* New terms are set out to make the agreement work better for “reality” shows.

* Rules governing background performance have been better harmonized between Vancouver, Montreal and Toronto. Cash background rates will rise by 13 per cent over the term of the agreement.

The full terms of the tentative agreement will be posted and distributed. as soon possible.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ACTRA’S STRIKE WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT UNTIL THE TENTATIVE DEAL IS SIGNED OFF BY THE PARTIES.

ACTRA Launches Strike in Nova Scotia

Our members announce the ACTRA strike in Nova Scotia.

At 12:01am, February 13th, ACTRA members in Nova Scotia officially and legally joined the strike across Canada. ACTRA Maritimes members gathered to hear Branch President Jeremy Webb and National Vice-president Jamie Bradley make the official announcement in front of seventy-five ACTRA members. We had invited the media to attend and were disappointed to see only two intrepid radio reporters and one print reporter in attendence. It was then that we learned that the Governor-General, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, was addressing the Legislature a block down the street and that’s where the media were.

Jeremy meets the press.

So, undaunted, the entire group bundled up against the -27 degree windchill, gathered up our flags and signs and surged down the street to make ourselves heard. And heard we were. Our president and national councillor gave interviews on the fly as news cameras appeared to record this gathering of performers seeking justice and a fair agreement.

Out in the cold. Rosemarie Walton marches outside the Nova Scotia Legislature.

Unfortunately, we did not get to meet Her Excellency. It was simply too cold to wait for her to complete her address inside. We will have to content ourselves with sharing airtime with her on the evening news!

At the legislature, Jeremy confers with Canadian Media Guild Rep Gerry Whelan, who lent his support to the event.

President Jeremy Webb and National Councillor Jamie Bradley interviewed on the fly.

Strike Update: Two Days of Mediation and….

CFTPA’s 1st offer: internet for free
ACTRA: No thanks…

CFTPA’s 2nd offer: internet for $5.65 a year
ACTRA: Um, no thanks…

The CFTPA has proposed that ACTRA agree to assign internet rights without any revenue-sharing, for five years, in return for a 1% annual fee.

ACTRA’s daily minimum fee is $565.

That’s $5.65 a year, for five years.

What does CFTPA want for this?

Worldwide distribution of professional performers’ work in “any new media now known” including websites, wireless, IP television, handhelds, iPods, cell phones, and so on.

No revenues would be shared with performers during those five years.

These terms would apply to every production ever produced in the past 64 years.

The CFTPA also proposed that performers accept a 0% pay increase in the first year of the agreement, in order to pay for these fees.

Performers would fund the $5.65 fee out of the pay increase they would otherwise receive. And then accept zero revenue sharing on internet distribution for five years.

ACTRA rejects this proposal.

This proposal, for all intents and purposes, is still “internet for free.”

HOW TO SETTLE ACTRA’S STRIKE

Fair rate increase
ACTRA members earn almost 30% less than SAG members on our own sets. We want to be paid fairly when working side-by-side with SAG performers. We want a rate increase that ensures we don’t fall further behind.

Fair compensation for internet use
We want to be compensated fairly for use of our work on the internet. We will not have our work put on the internet for free. ACTRA has proposed to put this issue to a special committee to make recommendations.

An end to litigation
The producers’ associations need to stop their legal threats and attacks against ACTRA and get down to the serious business of negotiating a fair agreement for performers and the industry.

$5.65 A YEAR FOR THE INTERNET? NO WAY

Synopsis of Membership Meeting Presentation

We are on strike.

For the first time in our 64 year history, ACTRA members are on strike. The strike began Monday, January 8, 2007 in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Quebec entered legal strike position Wednesday, January 10. We in Nova Scotia will be in strike position on February 13th.

Now, many of you are wondering: why are the strike dates different? Well, it’s because under labour law, each province has its own set of requirements for a union to put itself into a legal strike position.

In Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, the requirement was 72 hours notice or 3 days. In Quebec, provincial legislation requires 5 days notice.  In Nova Scotia, we require 14 days notice. Hence, the difference in dates.

Some members across the country are confused by this staggered strike and are fearful that some ACTRA branches will be losing work to other branches as producers flee to other provinces to avoid strike action.

This is not the case.

ACTRA plans to be in legal strike position in every province across Canada.  Newfoundland will join on Feb. 15th. Soon, Alberta and the other provinces will join the strike, except for B.C. – which has its own film and TV agreement – separate from ACTRA’s – which they are currently negotiating.

So how did we end up here?

Bargaining: Part I (To October 23)

How did a union with a perfect track record in bargaining, with a history of ensuring industry stability and encouraging the development of that industry end up being forced to declare a strike? More »