The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the B.C. branch of the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA-BC) have struck a tentative agreement with IATSE Local 891, IATSE Local 669, Teamsters 155, the Directors Guild of Canada’s B.C. branch (DGC BC) and the Union of British Columbia Performers (UBCP/ACTRA) to extend their respective agreements into 2025.

The deal, which is still subject to member ratification, will see union and guild members receive a 5% wage increase, effective April 1, 2024, Wendy Newton, business agent at IATSE local 669, tells Playback Daily. If ratified, the agreements will be in effect until March 31, 2025.

Newton says the deal will improve labour stability in the jurisdiction and give the union more leverage going into negotiations in 2024 and 2025, noting that it would move bargaining “into a better cycle,” occurring after their U.S. counterparts.

“We believe this offer presents both sides with an opportunity,” says Crystal Braunwarth, business representative at IATSE local 891, noting that the agreement would lead to the largest wage increase in the chapter’s history. “Both members and producers can benefit from the stability of our contract.”

A spokesperson for UBCP/ACTRA told Playback that a 2010 decision under the labour board requires the B.C. unions to have a common expiry date on their collective agreements, therefore all unions must ratify the extension for it to apply.

The respective unions reached out to their members last week. Members of IATSE Local 669 and 891 must vote by July 21. UBCP/ACTRA has scheduled an information meeting for members on Thursday (July 6), with the voting deadline of July 20.

The AMPTP and CMPA-BC did not respond to a request for comment as of press time.

“We believe this offer presents both sides with an opportunity,” says Crystal Braunwarth, business representative at IATSE 891. “Both members and producers can benefit from the stability of our contract.”

“We had an epic 15-month long negotiation for our last contract,” said Newton, noting the proposed extension and agreement comes as a “strong show of solidarity amongst B.C. unions [and] guilds.”

The DGC BC executive board is also recommending members accept the offer. Its goal, they said in a statement to Playback, is labour stability and attracting production to B.C. once the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) negotiations are resolved.

The WGA has been on strike for more than two months, following the end of negotiations with the AMPTP on May 1, which has resulted in a significant slowdown of production activity in Ontario and B.C.

The production disruption may worsen in the coming weeks as SAG-AFTRA continues its negotiations with the AMPTP, with talks extended to July 12, 11:59 p.m. PT. Labour action from the performers’ union could see a halt in some Canadian productions with cast members working under SAG-AFTRA membership.

The Directors Guild of America ratified their respective three-year agreement with the AMPTP last month, which includes a 5% wage increase for its members in the first year.

With files from Kelly Townsend

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