TORONTO – At this point, a new collective agreement between Canadian actors and producers looks a long, long way off and a strike looms large.
In a meeting on Tuesday to try and get talks rolling again, the CFTPA and APFTQ offered "to remove or significantly amend – in ACTRA’s favour – three of the four proposals that ACTRA and its members have identified as being most contentious," says the CFTPA release.
These proposals include rest periods (turnaround), new media amendments and deep discounts on productions with budgets ranging from four and twelve million dollars. The producers’ hoped that this step would stimulate ACTRA to discuss all the proposals tabled by both parties, according to the producers’ release.
“We went into the discussions today with the intent of showing significant willingness to move forward in the process by removing or modifying several proposals that ACTRA had the most difficulty accepting.” said John Barrack, chief negotiator for the CFTPA, “We’ve provided ACTRA with a road map for addressing its members concerns, while at the same time constructing the business conditions necessary for the creation of more work for performers. Ensuring the ongoing success of the production community is at the heart of all of our proposals.”
The producers’ proposed holding performer turn around time to the status quo of 11 hours. On new media the CFTPA/APFTQ proposed aligning productions with existing compensation models in areas that provide payments to performers for the manufacture of new content, as well as a royalty payment for when that material is used, says the press release.
"In an effort to expand work opportunities for both producers and performers – while at the same time addressing ACTRA’s concerns over perceived role backs (sic) – the CFTPA/APFTQ proposed several revisions to the Canadian Independent Production Incentive Program (CIPIP). CIPIP currently provides discounts to lower budget productions; however it requires significant updating in the face of new production realities. These revisions would be applied to the existing CIPIP structure and are crafted with a solution acceptable to all sides in mind," reads the release.
Alas, ACTRA didn’t go for it. “It appears that ACTRA’s strategy is designed to move this situation towards a crisis by once again demanding the removal of all our proposals without engaging in a frank and open dialogue to address their concerns, as well as holding a strike vote with its members. However, we’re cautiously optimistic with ACTRA’s decision to return to the bargaining table in Montreal” said Julie Patry, attorney, director, industrial relations, APFTQ.
The current deal expires December 31st.
ACTRA says the producers’ press release is at best, misleading. "The producers did not provide a ‘road map’ to a successful agreement," said actors’ negotiator Stephen Waddell. "What they did was tinker with three of their proposals without fundamentally changing them, leaving all their other retrograde proposals on the table. There is still an enormous gap between the parties, and no sign the producers’ association understands the seriousness of the situation they’ve provoked."
The ACTRA release said:
* The associations repackaged their internet proposal but are still seeking internet rights for free – asking actors to work for free.
* The associations repackaged their pay rollback proposal – but indicated they are still seeking pay rollbacks for both foreign and domestic producers. They just asked ACTRA to write up those pay rollbacks in a manner we’d be more comfortable with.
* The associations proposed a mutual withdrawal on "turnaround time".
"Everything else has stayed on the table. Producers are still seeking to gut performers’ residuals, rollback their pay, worsen working conditions, and implement numerous other retrograde proposals," stated Waddell.
ACTRA has applied for provincial conciliation across Canada. Conciliator Reg Pearson has been assigned to this issue by both the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario. "(U)nfortunately producers are currently refusing to meet with the conciliator," says ACTRA.
ACTRA members will be receiving a strike mandate ballot in their mail in coming days. The result of that vote will be available on or about December 15th.
