Vancouver: The Council of B.C. Film Unions has narrowly approved a three-year labor pact with U.S. and Canadian producers. The unions get a 3% rate increase over three years in the renewal of the one-year landmark deal that was supposed to be evidence of a stable labor climate in B.C.

Ratified the second week of October, the new deal – which rules the high-end film and TV work in B.C. – was rejected by Teamsters Local 155, which is partners in the Council with IATSE Locals 891 and 669. However, because of the make-up of the Council, the Teamsters are stuck with the deal even though 96% of voting truckers dumped it.

Tom Milne, Teamsters spokesman, says replacement workers and the altered work week, as described in the deal, are problematic. ‘There are articles in the agreement of concern,’ says Milne. ‘I don’t know what will transpire.’ He does not predict job action, but does anticipate close policing of the agreement and more grievances.

IA 669 and 891, meanwhile, passed the agreement with only about 38% of IA 891 – the massive 2,100-member technical union – voting.

Council spokesman Tim Hiltz says he is not authorized to divulge details of the voting. ‘There was some concern about aspects of the agreement that did not receive the good favor [of voters],’ he says. ‘No agreement is going to please everyone.’

Disruptions because of dissension about the agreement would be ‘highly inappropriate and actionable,’ says Hiltz.