TORONTO – The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television, and Radio Artists (ACTRA) has "welcomed" the appointment of Ontario’s most senior government conciliator to mediate talks between ACTRA and producers, a release said today.
Reg Pearson, Director of the Office of Mediation with the Ontario Labour Ministry, was appointed mediator after ACTRA filed for conciliation.
ACTRA and the Canadian Film and Television Producers Association (CFTPA) and l’Association des producteurs de films et de télévision du Québec (APFTQ) had been making little progress in reaching a new Independent Production Agreement, with the two sides trading accusations of bad faith bargaining.
“He [Pearson] is familiar with the parties and he knows the issues,” said Stephen Waddell, ACTRA’s National Executive Director and chief negotiator. “His appointment is a positive step and makes us hopeful this round of bargaining can move forward.”
Pearson, who worked in labour management with the CBC before becoming a mediator, helped mediate ACTRA’s bargaining round in 1999 and “was very helpful in bringing about a resolution,” Waddell said.
ACTRA and the CFTPA/APFTQ have agreed to hold a sidebar meeting Nov. 14th.
