ACTRA illegally strikes and refuses to address new media

ACTRA illegally strikes and refuses to address new media

TORONTO, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- ACTRA has chosen to walk away from a comprehensive settlement package designed to close the gap on all of the issues remaining on the table. The package covers all outstanding proposals including New Media, Wages, Background Performers, Animation, Fact-Based Lifestyle Programs and Documentaries.

ACTRA's has refused a wage increase of more than double of that agreed to by the Writers Guild of Canada and three and four times greater than agreements negotiated with the Directors Guild of Canada and NABET. The Producers offered a 3 percent wage increase for each year of the three year agreement in an effort to address what ACTRA had identified as its number one concern, closing the pay gap between themselves and actors covered by the Screen Actors Guild in the United States. Not only does the final proposal address ACTRA's concerns it was also designed to avoid any further disruption to the production sector.

"We've put forward a comprehensive package that gets Producers what they need to continue to creating quality Canadian productions in today's production environment as well as demonstrating significant flexibility in addressing ACTRA wage concerns." said John Barrack, Chief Negotiator, CFTPA. "It became clear that ACTRA was playing games when they posted a strike notice to members on their website while at the same time requesting that we continue bargaining. Furthermore, they're completely misinformed if they feel that decimating the industry in Canada will somehow give them more leverage with regard to increasing their wage package."

The Negotiating Committee representing the producers is a 3-way partnership made up of the CFTPA, APFTQ along with all the US Studios who negotiate with one voice for the mutual benefit of all producers.

"ACTRA seems to be under the impression that the New Media issues are only of interest to the US studios. Nothing could be further from the truth. The New Media package is at least, if not more important to Canadian producers." said Steve Comeau, President, Collideascope Digital Productions Inc.

"ACTRA seems to be bending to pressure from the Screen Actors Guild who have been present through out these negotiations. ACTRA seems unwilling to run any risk of doing something in Canada that would set a precedent that its US masters might find offensive. Steve Waddell, ACTRA's Chef Negotiator, seems to be willing to sacrifice the Canadian industry to placate his old bosses at SAG." added Barrack.

The Producers have always stated that we will not prevent ACTRA from Striking so long as it is done according to the Negotiating Protocol outlined in the IPA. The CFTPA will appear before the courts in Ontario and other provinces to have ACTRA's illegal continuation letters deemed invalid and possibly challenge the legal status of their organization. The CFTPA has always held the view that ACTRA cannot selectively strike against members of the CFTPA or APFTQ.

"We are not looking to further destabilize the industry but we will not stand by and allow ACTRA to extort our members with this ridiculously high fee." added Barrack.

"I am in disbelief that ACTRA can not find the courage to deal with the new business realities that face our industry. There is a real lack of leadership and understanding which is effectively writing ACTRA and its members out of the future" added Julie Patry, Attorney, Director, Industrial Relations, APFTQ.

"The CFTPA is committed to taking the appropriate action in order to protect the interests of our members in the short - and more importantly - the long term." said Guy Mayson, President and CEO, CFTPA. "From the beginning we have illustrated our willingness to work with ACTRA to find a deal that is in the best interest for all parties. I'm highly disappointed that they've chosen to abandon the IPA and the negotiated protocol and resort to this illegal work stoppage."

The CFTPA and APFTQ will be holding a press conference in Toronto today (Monday, January 8) at 12:30 pm at the Marriot Hotel at 90 Bloor Street East.

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. More specifically, we promote the general interests of our members provincially, federally, and internationally; we negotiate and manage labour agreements with guilds and unions; we administer copyright collectives; we train new industry entrants through 7 national internship programs; and we undertake a number of other specific initiatives that help increase awareness and enhance communication within the Canadian and international production communities.

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.

Source: CANADIAN FILM AND TELEVISION PRODUCTION ASSOCIATION

CONTACT: Jeff Brinton, Director of Communications and Media, Canadian
Film and Television Production Association (CFTPA), (613) 233-1444 ex 227,
brinton@cftpa.ca; Celine Pelletier, Directrice des communications, Association
des producteurs de films et de television du Quebec (APFTQ), (514) 397-8600
poste 228, Telec: (514) 392-0232, cpelletier@apftq.qc.ca

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