Solidarity without borders
ACTRA and SAG-AFTRA joint rally during TIFF in front of Amazon and Apple headquarters in Toronto.
Eleanor Noble
There are so many ways to define 2023 but what is absolutely front and center is ACTRA member’s solidarity. This is a shifting time in ACTRA’s 80 plus-year history and that’s a good thing. A great union like ACTRA evolves with the changes of the industry and the world around us to continue to protect and strengthen ourselves.
This has been a year of disruptions, strikes, and lockouts amongst unions worldwide.
It was not easy beginning 2023 in the midst of an ongoing lockout in our commercial jurisdiction. Corporate greed in the form of unreasonable requests by the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) have kept the lockout at a standstill.
Corporate greed in the form of unreasonable requests by the Institute of Canadian Agencies have kept the lockout at a standstill.
Regardless, ACTRA continues to persevere. We will never stop fighting in pursuit of a fair deal and to regain and secure our commercial jurisdiction. More than ever, our membership is engaged in standing up for our rights. We continue to push the boycott of the brands who are using advertising agencies that have locked us out. The boycott has stretched from coast to coast to coast with the help of the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC). And this past September, the Federation of International Actors (FIA) and its affiliates in 70 countries around the world agreed to support and highlight our boycott at an international level. FIA’s Executive Committee passed a resolution to support ACTRA’s expanding boycott of union busting brands. Coming together with all our sibling union leaders who stood in solidarity with us while donning ACTRA T-shirts, was an immensely proud moment.
FIA’s worldwide membership is calling out the unscrupulous corporations who are working with the ICA – refusing to negotiate fairly with performers – to maximize their own profits. “This attack on ACTRA in Canada is an attack on all of us.” said Gabrielle Carteris, FIA President.
“This attack on ACTRA in Canada is an attack on all of us.”— Gabrielle Carteris, FIA President.
We have also strengthened our alliances with the WGC, DGC, IATSE, and UDA, who fully back and support us as we do them.
Meanwhile, the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA went on strike and walked the picket line in solidarity for days that turned into weeks, that turned into months, making history as the longest simultaneous strike in our industry.
AI is a major threat and we are determined to put strong fences around protecting ACTRA member’s face, voice, image and likeness.
ACTRA stood shoulder to shoulder with them and their plight. We held rallies in Toronto and came together across the country on a National Day of Solidarity in support of the strikes and our lockout. Their issues are our issues. Their fight is our fight.
In the end, both the WGA and SAG-AFTRA successfully ratified their agreements.
Building a solid coalition with our sibling unions will help us in the coming year as we prepare to bargain the new Independent Production Agreement (IPA) with Canadian Producers. As with the WGA and SAG-AFTRA, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a major threat and we are determined to build strong fences around protecting ACTRA member’s face, voice, image and likeness. We will also focus on a new business model, ensuring we earn our fair share of the massive profits media giants make through streaming.
We need protections at the federal level, so we are taking a hardline in our lobbying of the government. Marie Kelly and I have recently spent a lot of time in Ottawa working with Heritage Minister Pascale St-Onge and the CRTC on establishing the requirements implementing Bill C-11. Nothing highlighted better the lack of Canadian production in Canada in 2023 than when the strikes halted U.S. studio production in Canada. We unnecessarily suffered the consequences. We are pushing for greater support in Canadian storytelling created and performed by Canadians. It’s our time to shine on the global stage.
As well, we are tackling AI and copyright issues at a high government level.
We will be engaging you all in these fights. This is about our livelihood and the future of our industry.
Our Strength is our Resilience. Our Resilience comes from our Solidarity. Our Solidarity brings Power. And we use this Power to build a better Union.
In Solidarity,
Eleanor Noble
ACTRA National President
