Producers Stand on ACTRA Strike
While ACTRA insists on continuance letters, producers will take battle into the courts for unlawful conduct.
You've heard from the union, now it's time to hear from the producers associations.
Backstage.com and Hollywood Reporter journalist Etan Vlessing gleaned the following:
Stephen Waddell, chief negotiator for ACTRA, which represents 21,000 domestic performers, said Canada faces a prolonged actors strike because dozens of producers have signed continuance letters that will guarantee their projects will remain in production, with ACTRA members working on them, despite any industry shutdown."We expect that a great deal of production will continue, because of the continuance letters," Waddell said. "We'll continue to sign companies, and we're feeling confident as more letters are coming in today."
Canadian and U.S. producer associations have urged their members not to sign the continuance letters on offer from ACTRA. The letters promise producers no disruption by ACTRA picket lines if they guarantee performers a 5% wage increase.
John Barrack, chief negotiator for the Canadian Film and Television Production Assn., representing English-language Canadian producers, on Thursday said that ACTRA's continuance letters were "unlawful," and will provoke a legal battle in the event of an industry shutdown.
"This will end up in the courts pretty quickly," Barrack promised.
Any comments?
Stephanie
