Headline, Industry News

ACTRA contract negotiations resume

MONTREAL, Nov. 28 /CNW/ – ACTRA laid out some bottom lines today, as negotiations on its main contract with producers resumed, a little more than a month before its expiry.
"We told them again today that our members will not accept their rollback proposals," said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator.
"The producers – including some of the world’s biggest multinational studios – have not and cannot show that the main production companies at the table are in financial trouble, that this trouble is because of our agreement, and that rolling back the pay of performers is what is required to put them back in the black."

ACTRA also rejected proposals from producers to get digital media rightsfor free and to gut performers’ residuals on all productions.
"Our members approved strike votes by over 95% twice in the 1990s to win their current residuals," Waddell said. "These retrograde digital media and residuals proposals are going to attract an even bigger strike vote on December 15 of this year unless it is withdrawn."

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ACTRA’s bargaining team presented the union’s own proposals. In this contract ACTRA is looking for:

-  a reasonable increase for all members under this contract.

-  a move to parity with Screen Actors Guild (SAG) on high-budget U.S. productions in steps over the next five years.

-  improvements to protections for minors on film productions.

-  an incremental improvement to hours of work.

-  measures to promote opportunities for performers with disabilities.

Producers did not respond to ACTRA’s proposals in discussions. Waddell said he was hopeful the parties might begin to address the issues tomorrow. Producers and ACTRA have scheduled intensive negotiations in December.

ACTRA members are currently voting on a strike mandate, with results expected on or about December 15. ACTRA’s contract expires December 31. No bargaining dates are scheduled after that date.