ACTRA Members vote “YES” to new three-year Agreement
TORONTO, ON (December 17, 2018) — An overwhelming number of ACTRA Members – 85.8 per cent – have voted YES in favour of ratifying the 2019-2021 Independent Production Agreement (IPA).
The new settlement will bring significant improvements to the IPA including: improved measures on harassment prevention, nudity, and respectful workplace language; a rate increase of nine per cent over the three-year term of the new deal; an increase to Member work opportunities through an addition to the Background Performer Count; two additional Use options for ACTRA Animation Voice Performers; and improved safety measures including protection for fatigued Performers, which provides alternatives to driving home after work.
“The ratification of this new Agreement demonstrates the strong engagement our Member Performers have in this important Canadian industry,” says David Sparrow, ACTRA National President. “It was through our dedicated team that we were able to overcome a complex series of issues to negotiate one of the best settlements for Performers in North America.”
“The result of this referendum is a display of the trust ACTRA’s hard-working Members have in their union,” says Stephen Waddell, Chief Negotiator and National Executive Director. “As unions around the world are facing employer demands for cutbacks at the bargaining table, our Canadian Performers had faith in us to negotiate a fair settlement on their behalf.”
The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) and the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM) completed negotiations in Toronto over a period of nine days, between November 5 and the early morning hours of November 14, 2018. The IPA covers the engagement of performers in all film, television and digital media production in Canada (except in British Columbia, which operates under a separate collective agreement negotiated by ACTRA’s local, UBCP/ACTRA). The new IPA will take effect January 1, 2019.
ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 25,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.
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Media Contact: Carol Taverner, Public Relations Officer, ACTRA National, tel: 416-644-1519, email: ctaverner@actra.ca