Strength in Solidarity

Eleanor Noble

As gig workers in a precarious industry, the kind of stability ACTRA provides to its members is essential in having any kind of security. ACTRA attains this through bargaining our collective agreements.

Becoming a union member legitimizes and proves you are a professional performer. As soon as you become an ACTRA cardholder, opportunities through auditioning open up. Once you start generating an income, benefits such as eye care, dental healthcare, massage therapy, physiotherapy, mental health therapy and more become available. It also begins the growth of a retirement savings plan for your future financial security. And, most importantly, working under a union contract through ACTRA assures fair wages and safe and respectful working conditions.

We recognize there is still much work to be done to improve respect in the workplace. We have made progress over the last five years in this regard, broadening diversity and inclusion and setting rules to diminish abuse of power. ACTRA recently met with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) to discuss issues faced in our industry regarding dignity and respect. We also continue to pursue our Hair and Makeup grievance with the help of Jenn Paul, ACTRA National’s new Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging Director. Many of you may know Jenn from the ACTRA Toronto office, where she previously worked as the Industry Relations Specialist for Anti-Black Racism, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and we are elated to have her working with us on the national level.

Recently, we have been through some very emotional and challenging rounds of bargaining, and we have been making positive headway.

Unexpectedly, over the last year, we have come up against a different kind of bargaining, one that threatens to bust our union. Thankfully, we achieved a renewal of the National Commercial Agreement (NCA) with the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA). However, the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) did not want to find an agreement with ACTRA. Rather, they broke away and are set on disregarding and disrespecting our collective agreement. The ICA demanded major cuts to our TV residuals and voiceover rates, placed bargaining conditions that would have reduced the scope of our agreement, created instability in the commercial industry across Canada, and incorrectly stated our NCA had expired and no longer existed. This was transparent bad faith bargaining, using tactics designed specifically to break our union

We have currently filed a claim with the Ontario Labour Relations Board and have reached out to union allies, advertisers and advertising agencies across the country to counter the attack and bring stability back to the commercial sector. We wish to express our thanks and gratitude to all eligible NCA voters for their resounding YES vote to a strike mandate, which provided us leverage in the fight, and again for the resounding YES vote to ratifying the renewal NCA.

What we do together as a union matters.

Make no mistake, we are in a fight against these union busters. But our union is about strength, solidarity and pride. Together and unified, we shall succeed in protecting our livelihood. We know the value in 28,000 ACTRA members across Canada and the ACA does as well. The ACA has proven to be a great partner. Please follow ACTRA’s regular Bulletins for updates and information about the ongoing process to protect our commercial sector.

In other news, we were very proud to announce Juanita Peters as ACTRA National’s 2022 Woman of the Year on March 7 ahead of International Women’s Day. Please join me in congratulating Juanita. You can learn about her incredible journey and contributions to the industry in her Q & A by Koumbie.

In early May, a Summit was held in Ottawa at the National Arts Centre, hosted by Minister of Canadian Heritage Pablo Rodríguez. The three-day event included thought-provoking plenary discussions involving artists and cultural industry leaders from across the country. The primary focus was on the future of the arts, the impact of Canadian culture both domestically and internationally, and the sector’s recovery as we gradually emerge from the pandemic. It was thrilling to be amongst so many Canadian artists and cultural leaders, including performers, musicians, singers, dancers, technicians, writers, directors, producers, visual artists and museum workers. The conversations were rich and provided a sense of the challenges facing different elements of our industry.

A common theme was an appreciation for the government recognizing us as gig workers and providing emergency benefit initiatives when the initial Covid-19 lockdowns began. The realization that gig workers are not eligible to contribute to or receive Employment Insurance and that income averaging for artists at tax time would be helpful in allowing us to sustain a better living were discussed and offered up as solutions moving forward.

There was also significant focus on the Online Streaming Act, Bill C-11 (read a related ACTRA news release here). We heard from representatives of media giants, such as YouTube, TikTok, and Facebook, who expressed their industry viewpoints while also explaining the nuances of their algorithms. Artists in the room explained that Canadian content is not highlighted via current algorithms, and it is hurting us. However, these media giants claimed nationality has nothing to do with algorithms, success or attention and that algorithms are not created by country. Artists were not in agreement with this explanation, provoking much heated debate, with many arguing that if media giants have the capability to control harmful and bad content and push positive messaging forward, they could equally support Canadian content through that very same system.

In addition to participating in the plenary discussions, I had the opportunity to meet with Minister Rodríguez one-on-one. We discussed media giants paying their fair share into our economy and equalizing obligations between foreign and traditional broadcasters. On behalf of ACTRA, I urged Minister Rodríguez to act quickly to pass Bill C-11 so we may all benefit from a long-overdue modernization of the Broadcasting Act. ACTRA will continue our lobbying efforts and public advocacy work until we see this important bill passed.

As we adjust to measures stemming from the pandemic, the ACTRA National Council will be meeting in person this June for the first time since 2020 before Covid protocols changed how we work and meet. We will be taking all precautions, including daily testing and following all health and safety recommendations set in Ontario. We are looking forward to bringing our branches together in solidarity as we have in the past.

Now, more than ever, understanding the significance of having a union behind us, especially given the precarious nature of our industry, coming out of a global pandemic, and the attack on our union by the ICA, is essential. Union solidarity is the base upon which we can build and sustain a livelihood doing what we love to do and what we do best. Without ACTRA and our collective agreements, we wouldn’t have fair working wages, protections, security, healthcare benefits, pension plans, or safety measures.

ACTRA is a leader in our industry. Let’s stand proud, stand strong, stand unified.

In solidarity,
Eleanor Noble
President of ACTRA National