The Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) has clarified its stance on artificial intelligence (AI) protections for Canadian screenwriters amid negotiations with the Writers Guild of Canada (WGC).

The association issued an update to members on the bargaining status of its Independent Production Agreement (IPA) with the WGC on Friday (April 12), obtained by Playback Daily. The update follows news that the WGC Council and Negotiating Committee are recommending that members vote yes on a strike authorization vote to improve its bargaining position.

“We understand that WGC leadership is communicating that the potential strike vote is a negotiating tactic,” wrote the CMPA. “While we are not overly concerned about tactics, we are concerned that a strike vote may allow the sector to be plunged into a strike without further writer consultation.”

The CMPA had previously offered an interim 4.5% increase on minimum script fees in order to extend the talks an additional four months beyond the IPA’s expiration date on Dec. 31, 2023. The IPA was not extended, and the parties have been negotiating through a mediator since January.

“The CMPA is unaware if writers were informed of the proposed increase, however we do know the WGC leadership quickly declined the offer,” read the update. “This was surprising as it was an offer without conditions to provide the industry with stability and writers with a fair increase, while allowing the CMPA and the WGC time to address difficult issues at the bargaining table. For reasons such as this, we are concerned about misinformation regarding what is being proposed at the bargaining table.”

Neither the WGC or the CMPA were able to provide comment at press time due to an ongoing media blackout while in mediation.

The WGC stated in a notice to members earlier this week, also obtained by Playback, that the core issues in the negotiations include meaningful protections for writers against AI, increased compensation for animation writers and a minimum level of participation of writers in production. The notice also emphasized that a strike authorization vote will not automatically mean a strike will occur, as negotiations are still ongoing.

The CMPA reiterated its previous comment to members that the association has offered “substantively the same protections regarding AI that were achieved by the WGA,” adding that “we believe strongly that future Canadian projects should be written by Canadian writers, not algorithms.”

The CMPA also stated that it has made a number of revisions to the offer during the negotiation process, though it did not specify what those revisions entail.

“We believe a strike would be devastating to the Canadian production sector. The industry is just starting to find its footing, following the pandemic and the residual impact of the U.S. labour actions last summer,” the CMPA concluded.

Image: Pexels