A: ACTRA’s Constitution needs to be amended so our union is able to stop union busters in their tracks. Amending the Constitution would pave the way to build alliances with other unions to protect our work in commercials; to grow the work covered under our agreement(s) and prevent further attacks in ACTRA’s work jurisdictions.

A: Joining forces in coalition with other unions on set allows ACTRA to bring other strong unions into our fight to work collectively to ensure a unionized commercial industry. We believe there is strength in numbers and more leverage at the bargaining table.

A: For the past ten months ACTRA members who work on commercials have been locked out by the Institute of Canadian Agencies. ACTRA (and UDA in Quebec) is the last union in Canada representing workers of any kind on commercial sets, leaving us on our own to fight the industry. We must protect and preserve our jurisdiction with a multi-pronged plan to fight back and this is just one tool to help us win.

A: It is crucially important for all ACTRA members to stand up in solidarity for commercial performers by voting in favour of this Constitutional Referendum. Further, if the union busters who are looking to eliminate unionized workers from commercial productions in Canada succeed, attacks in our other work jurisdictions - including film and television production - may be next.

A: To win this fight in in the commercial sector we need unions who represent other workers in the entertainment industry to stand with us. ACTRA had preliminary discussions with IATSE and the Director’s Guild of Canada, who have both shown interest in exploring ways to work with us to unionize and lock in the commercial sector as we have in film and television. If members vote yes, it would give ACTRA permission to move forward with these unions to create a formal strategy to unionize the entire commercial sector.

A: Only the highlighted words proposed in sections 601 and 710 will be amended as outlined in this document. Our Constitution has governed our work for 80 years and has been amended and modernized several times, most recently in 2020. Read the full ACTRA Constitution here.

A: No, our constitution and Bylaws already allow our Branches to implement changes to membership rules for the purposes of organizing. We simply want to give our national organization a similar ability but only in the specific situation where an entire national jurisdiction of ACTRA is under attack. For example, it would allow ACTRA National to effectively reduce the non-union work force by working with other unions to organize performers who work in the commercial sector.

A: NO. If ACTRA successfully forges a strategic alliance or Council of Unions with IATSE and DGC, each union will bear the costs of any future organizing campaign. In fact we believe collaborating should result in efficiencies, savings, and ultimately an increase in the membership and work opportunities for all three unions.

A: NO. Proposed changes to article 710 do not allow for a merger (that is already addressed in the existing article 711.) The proposed change only speaks to a partnership where ACTRA would retain their unique identity and autonomy.

A: Full ACTRA members who were in good standing as of December 31, 2022 are eligible to vote in this Constitutional Referendum.