ACTRA sent out a press release on January 3rd announcing their strike deadline of January 8th, 2007.

ACTRA is the Alliance of Canadian Cinema and Television and Radio Artists, similar to the American union AFTRA.

January 3, 2007 - TORONTO - In a unanimous vote, ACTRA's negotiating committee has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Monday, January 8, 2007.

Producers were given notices to this effect as last-ditch talks resumed this morning.

"ACTRA wants to avoid a strike. We're going to try hard this week to negotiate a new agreement. But the producers' associations must not underestimate our determination to ensure that it is a fair agreement," stated Stephen Waddell, ACTRA's National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator.

ACTRA received an overwhelming 97.6% strike mandate from its membership in December.

"Canadian performers will not see their wages eroded and will not be giving away their work on the internet for free," said Waddell.

If no agreement is arrived at this week, ACTRA will be striking against producers in most of Canada except British Columbia. The many producers who have signed continuation letters with ACTRA will not be involved in this action.

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is a national organization of professional performers working in the English-language recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of 21,000 members across Canada - the foundation of Canada's highly acclaimed professional performing community.

Additional Information

Some important items to note regarding IPA negotiations include:

- ACTRA has set a strike deadline of 12:01 a.m. Monday, January 8, 2007.
- Negotiations will be taking place this week.
- Only work under the IPA will be affected by a strike (including CIPIP and TIP).
- Performers will still be able to do commercial work, student films, etc., should ACTRA go on strike.

Please stay tuned to ACTRA and watch for emails from ACTRA.

Source: ACTRA