ACTRA National – President’s Messages

United. Coast to coast… to coast

April 22, 2013

Spring has sprung!

For many across this country it has been a long wait for spring. Patience is a great virtue, and in conjunction with determination, it proves to be a good investment. Our brothers and sisters at UBCP/ACTRA certainly know this all too well, having recently concluded negotiations for the British Columbia Master Production Agreement (BCMPA) after a marathon year and a half of bargaining.

A solid deal was achieved and soundly ratified by the membership. The union fought off Producer demands for massive concessions, and gained a 1.5% increase in each of the next two years.

Notes of congratulations from all across Canada flew to UBCP/ACTRA President, Alvin Sanders. In the midst of an industry that has been virtually abandoned by their provincial government, it took courage to stand up to the Hollywood studios. We at ACTRA were honoured to stand in solidarity with UBCP/ACTRA throughout. They were at the table in our negotiations, and we were at the table with them. We had each others’ backs.

As actors we know how to work collaboratively, but we also understand the incredibly competitive nature of our industry. It takes serious backbone to hold strong and resist studio and producer attempts to divide us. I am incredibly proud of the work we did together over the past year, and I am looking forward to continuing to build that bond that reaches across this country, from coast to coast, to present a strong and united front in all future negotiations.

In solidarity,
Ferne Downey
ACTRA National President

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