Vancouver: A bid by the B.C. Council of Film Unions to create a separate collective agreement for low-budget Paramount and Warner Bros. projects has been rejected by the union membership.

‘It wasn’t even close,’ says Tom Adair, spokesperson for the Council, referring to the balloting the was counted Sept. 14.

The Paramount-Warners Bros. contract – which shouldn’t be confused with the B.C. Producers contract – was designed to apply to productions that fall below the thresholds of the ‘exclusive jurisdiction’ the Council already enjoys, including high-end studio features and u.s. network series.

Adair says the sagging Canadian dollar and the flood of production in b.c. contributed to the membership rejecting a contract that lowered labor rates.

He adds the cavco-inspired B.C. Producers contract that offers discounts on labor rates depending on Canadian content and budgets is still being finalized and has not been sent out for ratification even though a few shows – including series Night Man and The Crow – are working under it.