TORONTO – Two of Canada's media and entertainment unions are joining forces in an effort to improve working conditions and organize workers in factual/reality television.
Entertainment union International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) is teaming up with media union CWA Canada in its Fairness in Factual TV campaign, a five year old initiative that seeks to improve health and safety, and establish fairness in pay and working conditions in the industry.
According to Tuesday’s announcement, independent contractors and employees often work side by side in the factual TV industry and misclassification is common, which robs workers of legal rights such as overtime and vacation pay.
“What we've learned after five years of being a voice for factual TV workers is that they need and want union contracts similar to those in the scripted TV industry but tailored to factual," said CWA Canada president Martin O'Hanlon, in the announcement. "They're done with being treated as poor cousins. This alliance will help them improve their working lives.”
“Workers in factual TV need a strong, experienced voice that can represent them when they are fighting for better working conditions," added John Lewis,. "We have decades of experience representing entertainment industry workers and understand their unique needs.”
