WGC, CMPA negotiations to continue in January

The Canadian writers guild and producers association have agreed that the current IPA will remain in force beyond its expiry date on Dec. 31.

Talks between the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) will continue into next year.

The two parties are now in mediation, which will reconvene on Jan. 25, spokespersons for the WGC and the CMPA told Playback Daily.

Both the WGC and the CMPA have agreed that the independent Production Agreement (IPA) will remain in force past its expiry date on Dec. 31 as part of the negotiation protocol terms of the contract.

The groups have been in negotiations on a new three-year IPA since October. Talks temporarily suspended on Nov. 23, before resuming last week. Key issues on the table include protections around the use of artificial intelligence and increased compensation for WGC’s more than 2,500 members.

A number of Canadian unions and guilds, including the Directors Guild of Canada, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), NABET (National Association of Broadcast Employees and Technicians) 700-M UNIFOR, and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA), have voiced their solidarity with the WGC in the bargaining process. More than 100 showrunners and executive story editors signed an open letter in support of the WGC as well.

As per the terms of the IPA, no strike or lockout can occur until the agreement has passed its expiry date, and the parties have met with a third-party conciliator and still failed to come to an agreement.

In that event, a negotiating party will have the right to request a report from the conciliation officer to be submitted to the federal Minister of Labour. A strike or lockout would be able to take place 15 days after the report is sent.

There will be no further comment on the mediation process and the substance of bargaining until it’s completed, on request of the mediator, said the WGC and CMPA spokespersons.

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