The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) is seeking a strike authorization vote as labour negotiations continue with the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).
The WGC issued a notice to members on Tuesday (April 9), obtained by Playback Daily, which states that the WGC Council and the Negotiating Committee are recommending members vote yes to authorize a strike, adding that talks “have reached a critical point.”
The note emphasizes that a strike authorization from membership does not automatically mean there will be a strike, but that a strong yes vote from the majority of its members will put the guild in a stronger bargaining position.
A deadline for the strike authorization vote has not been made public, but the notice stated that meetings with committees and stakeholders will take place “in the coming days,” and a virtual general member meeting is scheduled for April 15.
Neither the WGC or the CMPA were able to comment at press time due to a media blackout agreement.
The WGC and the CMPA have been in negotiations for a renewed Independent Production Agreement (IPA) since last October, and entered mediation in January. The core issues in the IPA talks remain unresolved, according to the WGC notice to members.
Those core issues include “meaningful” protections for animation and live action writers against the use of artificial intelligence (AI), minimum participation of screenwriters during production and increased compensation for animation writers.
A memo from the CMPA to its members last December stated that the producers association was prepared to offer “substantively the same” AI protections that the Writers Guild of America received in its latest agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
The current IPA expired on Dec. 31, 2023. The terms of the IPA state that, in order to declare a strike, the parties must negotiate with a mediator. If talks still fail, either party can request a report from the mediator to the federal Minister of Labour. A strike or lockout can occur 15 days after the report is sent.
A source close to the matter tells Playback that a strike is an absolute last resort for any guild or union, but a successful vote will signal that the idea of labour action “no longer becomes empty posturing.”
“The hope, as always, is that the CMPA comes back to the table and offers a fair deal that protects the writers who uphold a majority of production companies in this country,” they added.
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