TORONTO – While Canadian actors and producers continue their standoff on a new collective agreement, as reported previously by Cartt.ca, ACTRA, the actors union, plans to bring the battle to the Canadian Association of Broadcasters on Monday.
According to the French and English-language producers associations, ACTRA is refusing to negotiate," and has asked the Associations to withdraw their proposals without any substantive discussion," said a release from the CFPTA/APFTQ today. The current collective agreement expires December 31, 2006.
ACTRA’s actions are "highly unusual and could force the ACTRA Independent Production Agreement (IPA) – a collective agreement which covers Performers in all provinces outside of British Columbia – to be negotiated on a province-by-province basis. Although there could be some advantage to provincial bargaining for Producers, it is not the first choice of the Associations and can only be viewed as a divisive strategy that will create major production uncertainty across the country," says the press release.
"Instead of engaging in a meaningful dialogue regarding the proposals, ACTRA filed a conciliation notice in the province of Ontario which forces the appointment of a government mediator. ACTRA has also indicated that they intend to file conciliation notices in all other provinces… which is the legal step required before going on strike."
“ACTRA wants to avoid a strike and that is exactly why we applied for conciliation,” said ACTRA’s chief negotiator Stephen Waddell in response. “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, according to ACTRA.
“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," said Waddell. "Their bizarre statements about ACTRA wanting to go on strike and their attempts to block conciliation are creating instability in the industry."
“Conciliation is a step that is only undertaken once reasonable efforts have been made by both parties to negotiate towards an agreement. At this point in time, we’ve not had a chance to start bargaining. ACTRA’s insistence that we withdraw our proposals could be considered bad faith bargaining” said John Barrack, chief negotiator for the CFTPA. “If ACTRA maintains its demand that the Producers’ Associations withdraw their proposals without engaging in a discussion, conciliation will be meaningless regardless of where it takes place."
“Increasing global competition along with changes in audience viewing habits are forcing everybody to re-examine how we do business and this has to involve the guilds and unions who are our partners” added Guy Mayson, president & CEO, CFTPA
“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," said Waddell.
In order to ratchet up the pressure and media coverage on this issue and that of Canadian drama, ACTRA is holding a press conference on Monday morning at the Vancouver Performing Arts Lodge, right across the street from the Westin Bayshore Hotel, site of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters annual convention.
ACTRA continues to say, as it always has, Canadian broadcasters’ actions have had a detrimental effect on Canadian actors’ livelihoods. Union members will be on hand to "speak out on the crisis of Canadian television drama and call for a minimum level of Canadian drama on our public airwaves," says the union.
"Canadian broadcasters are filling their prime-time slots with hundreds of millions of dollars worth of U.S.-made programs at the expense of Canadian drama, Canadian jobs and Canadian culture.
