Quebec’s media producer association has reached a tentative deal with AQTIS (Association québécoise des techniciens et techniciennes de l’image et du son) IATSE Local 514.

L’Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM) and the union announced Tuesday (Feb. 27) that they had successfully concluded negotiations around their collective agreements in film, television and new media.

The agreements will be sent to members for ratification by early spring, according to a news release. The previous collective agreements expired on Nov. 11, 2023.

AQTIS IATSE Local 514 represents more than 8,000 audiovisual workers in Quebec, spanning more than 200 occupations, including assistant directors, camera operators, makeup artists, costume designers, sound technicians, VFX artists, and more. AQPM represents more than 160 production companies in the province, as well as about 40 freelance producers.

“We are proud to have achieved results that are consistent with our mission: to improve the social and economic conditions of our members,” said AQTIS 514 IATSE president Christian Lemay in a statement. “Our technicians will be able to continue practicing their trades with dignity thanks to improved conditions of employment that address their realities. Our bargaining committee will recommend ratification of this tentative agreement and we are confident that our members will recognize its merits.”

Hélène Messier, president and CEO of AQPM, said the agreements “will enable producers to continue offering Quebec audiences quality works made by top-notch professional crews, despite the additional costs in an already difficult environment,” and “are based on a genuine compromise between the parties.”

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