ACTRA In Canada Calls Strike

Source: CBC.ca

Even though ACTRA (The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) has called on its members to reject current contract negotiations and go out on strike, most of the actors in the Alliance have opted to keep working while the negotiations continue.

Film, television and radio performers were in a position to strike in three provinces early Monday, but there were no picket lines nor were any of its 21,000 membes out pacing the curb anywhere throughout Canada. Production on current projects are still ongoing as well.

ACTRA has gone ahead and signed a continuation agreement with every producer with a film or TV project underway in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to avoid those work stoppages.

The continuation agreements give ACTRA members the same terms they were demanding at the bargaining table, Karl Pruner, president of ACTRA’s Toronto branch, said at a news conference Monday.

“All the producers have broken from their association and signed these agreements,” he said.

“What we’ve signed for is the same pay increase we were asking for at the table. To me, that’s a win.”

The only exception may be animated movie and TV production, as some producers of animated films have been stockpiling work in anticipation of a strike.

This is only the first of a several entertainment industry contracts due for renegotiation in 2007. United States directors, producers, actors and studio heads have been watching what takes place in Canada to get some kind of feel for the climate as talks with the Writers Guild of America, the Directors Guild of America and the Screen Actors’ Guild will be commencing very soon.

“The producers didn’t want any bad precedent here that is going to mess up their talks in the U.S.,” Pruner said.

While current Canadian projects continue there are no new talks scheduled at this time.