TORONTO – ACTRA is pleased with the appointment of Ontario’s most senior government conciliator, Reg Pearson, to mediate negotiations between ACTRA and the CFTPA/APFTQ for a new IPA (Independent Production Agreement).

“We have worked with Reg Pearson before,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator. “Reg mediated our 1999 bargaining round, and was very helpful in bringing about a resolution,” added Waddell.

Reg Pearson is Director of the Office of Mediation with the Ontario Ministry of Labour. He was appointed mediator after ACTRA filed for conciliation in bargaining with producers.

Mr. Pearson has film and television industry experience, having worked in labour management with the CBC before becoming a mediator. “He is familiar with the parties, and he knows the issues. His appointment is a positive step and makes us hopeful this round of bargaining can move forward. We’re looking forward to working with him,” said Waddell.

ACTRA requested the assistance of a neutral third party to assist the talks after producers presented rollback proposals including paycuts of 10 to 25%, gutting of performer residuals, and erosion of working conditions.

ACTRA and the CFTPA/APFTQ have agreed to hold a sidebar meeting on November 14, 2006. ACTRA has invited Mr. Pearson to join that meeting.

TORONTO, Nov. 3 /CNW/ – ACTRA believes that the producers’ association is intent on causing a strike in the film and television industry.

"Based on their huge demands for concessions, their delay in coming to bargaining, their attempts to block the appointment of a Conciliator and their filing of inaccurate and time wasting applications with the Labour Board it would appear they really are not interested in getting an agreement with us before the contract expires," stated ACTRA Chief Negotiator Stephen Waddell.

The CFTPA/APFTQ has demanded that Canadian performers take pay cuts of up to 25% on virtually 80% of Canadian productions. They have also put forward demands that would eliminate most residual payments to performers for future broadcasts of their work and for work on the internet.

The film and television agreement (IPA) expires on December 31, 2006. ACTRA requested that talks start last March but the CFTPA/APFTQ refused to provide any dates until October and provided only eight potential dates before the end of the agreement.

"Their behaviour is bizarre," said Waddell. "We have offered to meet with them with a Conciliator to see if we could find some common ground. Yet, they have filed a complaint with the Labour Board that we are refusing to meet."

ACTRA has also offered the CFTPA/APFTQ a letter of continuation which would allow producers currently involved in projects to continue past the expiry date of the agreement. The CFTPA/APFTQ has told its members to refuse to sign and has not attempted to negotiate with ACTRA on the letter.

"Every move the CFTPA makes seems designed to create conflict and instability. Their behaviour is inexplicable and incoherent. One can only assume that they want to force a strike," commented Waddell.

TORONTO, Nov. 2 /CNW/ – ACTRA Chief Negotiator Stephen Waddell has called on the producer association (CFTPA) to work with government appointed mediators and ACTRA to reach a fair film and television agreement.

"ACTRA wants to avoid a strike and that is exactly why we applied for conciliation," stated Stephen Waddell, "Unfortunately, the CFTPA has a horrible record of not getting contracts negotiated and ratified in our industry. One has only to look at their lack of success with the other unions."

Last winter ACTRA asked the CFTPA to provide dates so that bargaining on the new Independent Production Agreement could begin as early as March, 2006. The CFTPA failed to provide dates until October. The current agreement expires on December 31, 2006.

"The CFTPA has backed negotiations up against a wall and they continue to play games about their willingness and availability to meet with a conciliation officer. Their bizarre statements about ACTRA wanting to go on strike and their attempts to block conciliation are creating instability in the industry," said Waddell. 

To maintain stability in the industry ACTRA has offered a continuation letter to the CFTPA which would allow production to continue after the agreement expires. Waddell added, "We are hoping that cooler heads will prevail at the CFTPA – that they will take us up on our offer of a continuation letter and get down to serious bargaining."