Montreal: The APFTQ and Societe des auteurs de radio, television et cinema (SARTEC), representing French-language screenwriters, have signed a new four-year collective agreement covering feature films. The deal sets variable rates for productions in different stages of development or production, and gives writers a base increase of 11% over the term of the agreement. The agreement is effective April 15. The producers and SARTEC have an agreement covering TV.

Meanwhile, the APFTQ is still in negotiations on a new collective agreement with film technicians in the STCVQ, and in ‘mediation’ with the Writers Guild of Canada.

Negotiations covering French-track TV production with Quebec directors in the ARRQ are in arbitration. A deal with the directors covering film is in place.

In Quebec, both the WGC and the Directors Guild of Canada have exclusive representation rights as recognized by Commission de reconnaissance des associations d’artistes et des associations de producteurs, a Quebec government administrative tribunal.

SARTEC, headed by general-director Yves Legare, represents more than 900 writers of drama, teleromans, series, features, TV movies, documentaries and variety programs.

-www.sartec.qc.ca