Vancouver: The B.C. Council of Film Unions – which represents the 10,000 members of the technical union IATSE Local 891, camera union IATSE Local 669 and Teamsters Local 155 – has signed its third Master Collective Agreement with Canadian and u.s. producers since 1996.

Negotiations with the b.c. chapter of the Canadian Film and Television Production Association and the Encino, California-based Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers began in November and concluded Jan. 14.

Wages will increase 3% per year over the three-year term of the agreement, which comes into effect April 1, pending successful ratification, expected by early March. And other than a few language changes that clarify issues such as turnaround and overtime, the contract is largely the same as the outgoing contract that expires March 31, says Richard Longpre, the new vp of industrial relations for the B.C. Chapter of the cftpa.

‘This is really positive because Canadian and American producers know early about the terms of employment for year 2000,’ says Longpre.

The new contract is endorsed by each of the participating unions, including the Teamsters, which campaigned unsuccessfully to scuttle the last contract three years ago.

In a joint release, the unions and employers suggest the contract will be worth $700 million in wages, based on industry growth projections.