Film & TV Unions and Guilds Launch “FAIR” Coalition
November 28, 2024
Film & TV Unions and Guilds Launch “FAIR” Coalition to Demand Responsible Industry Policy & Fair Use of Taxpayer Dollars - Eight major unions and guilds question Telefilm at Annual Public Assembly on investment in projects that fail to sign or respect collective agreements
Toronto – Unions and guilds representing over 87,000 screenwriters, directors, performers, artists and crew in Canadian film & television joined together today to form FAIR, the Film & Television Alliance for Industry Responsibility. This new coalition is dedicated to ensuring accountable industry policy and the responsible use of taxpayer dollars.
The members of FAIR have asked Telefilm to require the application of fair minimum standards through collective agreements for creative professionals working in Canadian film by adopting the policy already in place at the Canada Media Fund (CMF), requiring producers to remain in good standing with industry unions and guilds, and to stop investing in productions that won’t sign collective agreements. These changes would leave in place all union and guild policies and programs to accommodate lower-budget productions but would require larger productions to meet their obligations to the broader industry and film & television community.
Today at Telefilm’s Annual Public Assembly, these unions and guilds put the following question to Canada’s film agency:
“A large number of large productions refuse to sign collective agreements with organizations representing film and TV workers which leave workers unprotected. In the absence of requiring that production companies remain in good standing with unions and guilds, what is Telefilm’s plan to hold production companies accountable?”
Telefilm President Julie Roy responded:
“I want to start by acknowledging that fair working conditions are important. As an investor in Canada’s creative industries, Telefilm is committed to supporting a healthy ecosystem that thrives in a culture of integrity, dignity, and mutual respect. Telefilm is in discussions with unions and guilds on these matters, and we are exploring how we can contribute to finding sustainable solutions in this space.”
Without fair contracts, the creative professionals who make this industry run have no advocates, nor guarantees, with respect to fair compensation, timely payment, talent development, diversity, workers’ health & safety, workplace protections, health and retirement benefits, sustainability standards or the protection of creative rights. As a public institution, we believe Telefilm has an obligation to industry members, taxpayers and the public to advance and uphold each of these aims.
Currently, an alarming number of larger productions receiving taxpayer dollars leave film & television professionals unprotected. Even for productions with budgets over $5 million, 27% are still not signing agreements.
65% of productions with budgets under $1 million sign with only half, or fewer, of the applicable unions and guilds.
31% of productions with budgets between $1 million and $5 million sign with only half, or fewer, of the applicable unions and guilds.
27% of productions with budgets over $5 million sign with only half, or fewer, of the applicable unions and guilds.
The members of FAIR comprise Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ), Directors Guild of Canada (DGC), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), NABET 700-M UNIFOR, Société des auteur.e.trice.s de radio, télévision et cinéma (SARTEC), L’Union des Artistes (UDA), Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).
Association des réalisateurs et réalisatrices du Québec (ARRQ)
"An adequate and proactive solution would be to ensure, even before granting funding, that minimum working conditions will be applied by the productions."
-Mylène Cyr, Executive Director, ARRQ
Directors Guild of Canada (DGC)
More projects are pitched to Telefilm by talented creative teams every year than the agency can possibly fund, so why choose to put taxpayer dollars into projects that won’t even guarantee fair wages and working conditions to their own people?
-Dave Forget, Executive Director, DGC
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
“Telefilm and the unions have shared goals here – ensuring that workers are treated fairly and that public funds are used responsibly. We’re simply asking that Telefilm enshrine that into its process, and that they do so in the coming months, rather than the coming years.”
-John M. Lewis, International Vice President & Director of Canadian Affairs, IATSE
NABET 700-M UNIFOR
"In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, the importance of responsible industry practices and collaboration between Telefilm, unions, and guilds cannot be overstated. Only through these collective efforts can we ensure the resilience and long-term success of Canada's screen-based industry, supporting not only its growth but also the workers who are the backbone of this vital sector."
-Ryan Pogue, President, Nabet 700-M UNIFOR
Writers Guild of Canada (WGC)
“The coalition of unions and guilds in FAIR stands for the same things: fair compensation, minimum working standards, and workplace protection. Telefilm has a key role in ensuring Canada’s film industry remains a viable option for screenwriters and other workers in this country.”
-Victoria Shen, Executive Director, Writers Guild of Canada
