The Canadian Media Production Association, representing indie producers, and the Directors Guild of Canada have both ratified their new Standard Agreement, which includes a 2% wage increase in line with other recent industry union and guild agreements.

The new 2013 – 2015 agreement, which took effect on June 14, 2013, also included gains on closing an inequity gap for low-income earners among the DGC membership, according to the guild.

The new minimum daily rates for drama directors, adjusted by tiers, vary from $1,462.77 per day for 18 episode series to $851 per day for a 10-episode sitcom run.

The deal also includes a new expedited arbitration process for a producer facing an “unfair declaration.”

The old standard agreement between the DGC and the CMPA, excluding B.C. and Quebec, expired on Dec. 31, 2012.

“We are very happy with this new agreement,” said Bill Skolnik, DGC Ontario CEO, in a statement.

“The CMPA is very happy we were able to reach an agreement that recognizes the needs of Canadian producers, yet fairly compensates DGC members across the country,” echoed Reynolds Mastin, chief negotiator and chief legal officer of the CMPA, in his own statement.