TORONTO — A $35-million class action lawsuit has been filed against Toronto-based reality TV production company Insight Productions. The suit is seeking damages stemming from alleged employment standards violations.
Insight Productions is best known for producing Canadian versions of shows such as Amazing Race, Big Brother and CBC’s Battle of the Blades.
The lawsuit filed in Ontario Court on Friday by law firm Cavalluzzo LLP claims Insight owes hundreds of workers unpaid overtime, vacation pay and holiday premiums because of contracts that did not comply with Ontario’s Employment Standards Act. The suit was filed on behalf of current and former employees and so-called independent contractors, the news release says.
According to the news release, the lawsuit against Insight was welcomed by unions CWA Canada and IATSE (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees), which are working together to support workers in factual and reality TV who want union contracts similar to those in the scripted movie and TV industry. CWA Canada’s Fairness in Factual TV campaign began six years ago when a group of reality and factual TV workers sought the union’s support. The IATSE joined the campaign last year.
“This part of the industry can no longer be some kind of isolated island where anything goes when it comes to work rules and pay,” said Denise O’Connell, an organizer with the Fairness in Factual TV campaign.
The new legal action comes about 16 months after a similar lawsuit was filed against Cineflix Productions. That lawsuit is still before the courts.
“In the weeks following the Cineflix lawsuit, many people contacted us with similar complaints about Insight,” said Sean Fitzpatrick, a lawyer at Cavalluzzo, in the news release. “We heard about very long workdays, six- and seven-day workweeks with no overtime, and no extra pay for holidays. We are putting the reality/factual TV industry on notice that it can no longer deny workers their basic employment rights.”
