40325 ACTRA Interactra5 8/31/05 9:54 AM Page 1 Fall 2005 The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists coast to coast A snapshot of what members are working on across the country – see page 8 40325 ACTRA Interactra5 8/31/05 9:54 AM Page 2 A letter to my fellow members Richard Hardacre While many of you know me, I imagine Plan: we need to work ceaselessly on public Paying attention to our house also means many more are wondering, who is this guy? policy to build our industry, we need to building solidarity from coast to coast. We And what’s he doing leading my union? safeguard and improve our insurance bene- will be negotiating our big contract, the Who am I? Well, asked to describe myself fits and we need to create solidarity among IPA, next winter. Members of UBCP/ I would say that I am committed to my performers across Canada in order to make ACTRA will be negotiating their parallel career as a professional actor, that I have some well-deserved gains at the bargaining contract, the B.C. Master Agreement, even no illusions as to how arduous that path is, table. sooner. At National Council, two minutes and that years ago I joined a few fellow per- Our campaign for distinctive Canadian after I took the chair, I offered a simple formers of common mind with a mission to film and TV production already has concept – a wish really – that ACTRA’s improve the lot of creative artists. I would momentum. It is influencing decision-mak- and UBCP’s negotiators could agree to a say that I am a pragmatist and that I am ers in Ottawa and has given our members strategy of coordinated bargaining. That we determined when I have set a goal. And a cause. ACTRA is at the vanguard of could craft the basic proposals for these two that I am devoted to my family of two political action in English-Canadian cul- important contracts covering the bulk of young children is certainly a big part of ture. We’ve redefined what a union can do film and television production in English my backbone. and we’ve moved beyond our role as a first- Canada together. Joint preparation, while Determination to build the strength of rate bargaining agent for performers’ rights. respecting the autonomy of our brothers performers is what guided me to the privi- We can now tune our efforts into a deep- and sisters in B.C., could do nothing less lege of leading our union. I’m going to er national consciousness. We can use our than create an environment of solidarity tell you some of the things I believe that members’ energies and our lead in national across the nation. ACTRA must do and I’d like you to con- coalitions to inspire government to create Both negotiating teams will face the sider that, working together, we can accom- a solid ‘Cultural Policy’ for English Canada, global powers behind North America’s plish them. We need to concentrate on one in which performers and all creative major production studios, and they will three priorities that mesh with the ACTRA artists are intrinsic to cultivating our cul- exploit any lack of unity by forcing us to ture. This will be no small feat. bargain in competition with each other. It will require the unrelenting By contrast, in their last big contract focus of our senior staff, the rounds, SAG and AFTRA united in bar- commitment of National gaining strategy and achieved a 10% gain Council and the energy of over their next contract! our entire membership. I sincerely hope that my first proposal as We also need to pay atten- ACTRA’s new National President has not tion to our own house. I want fallen on deaf ears. If it has, performers to assure you that ACTRA will from coast to coast will have the right to do its darnedest to safeguard ask why. Why must ACTRA’s performers, the insurance benefits to which whether paying their dues in Halifax, our members are entitled. Regina, Vancouver or Toronto accept lesser Extended health benefits, gains as a result of our not working togeth- dental care, etc. are insurance er? I ask all of you to consider this. Then benefits that we supply to our consider the strength of solidarity and how working members through much can be achieved with it. Tell those ACTRA Fraternal Benefit who represent you what you want. It can Society (AFBS). We will look be yours. It can be ours. to improving the engagers’ contribution to health insur- In solidarity, ance during our next rounds of bargaining. Meanwhile, we will be negotiating a new service agreement with AFBS and we will work closely with them to Richard Hardacre with Vicki Gabereau, ACTRA/UBCP maximize the benefits that you Richard Hardacre member and 2005 recipient of ACTRA’s John Drainie Award. can expect from your union. President, ACTRA National 2 InterACTRA FALL 2005 40325 ACTRA Interactra5 9/2/05 7:47 AM Page 3 page 6 In this issue of InterACTRA... ACTRA statement PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE concerning CBC by Richard Hardacre .................................................................. 2 dispute LETTERS ACTRA and the USW ................................................................ 4 ACTRA supports the Canadian Media Guild (CMG) in its contract dispute NEWS with the CBC. ACTRA members are New President, Union Solidarity, instructed not to perform any struck Film Policy Update .................................................................. 5 work at the CBC, and to support the COVER STORY CMG membership by volunteering to page 8 ACTRA Coast to Coast: picket CBC locations with our CMG A snapshot of what members are brothers and sisters. working on across the country .......................................... 8 page 13 ACTRA performers are instructed to FEATURE respect CMG’s picket lines and follow by Sharon Davidson the instructions of CMG picket cap- Tyrone Benskin: Performing half tains with respect to picket protocol. a world away in Charlie Jade ............................................ 13 Those ACTRA performers who have existing contracts with the CBC are FEATURE under a legal obligation to fulfill those by Keith Martin Gordey contracts, except where the performer PALVancouver: Building a dream .................................. 15 has a bona fide concern for his/her page 17 safety in which case the performer COLUMN may refuse to cross the picket line. by Christie MacFadyen Lunch with theatre-chain magnate Ellis Jacob ........ 17 POLICY UPDATE by Ken Thompson CCAU Report, Frulla in Banff ............................................ 19 Fall 2005 Volume 12, Issue 2 BARGAINING NEWS by Marit Stiles InterACTRA is the official publication of Research fuels Bargaining, Organizing ........................ 21 ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists), a Canadian union of performers affiliated to the Canadian Labour BRANCH REPORTS Congress and the International Federation of Newfoundland/Labrador, Toronto, Actors. InterACTRA is free of charge to all New councils for Manitoba and Calgary ...................... 22 ACTRA members. Editorial Advisory Committee: APPLAUSE Richard Hardacre, Thor Bishopric, Joanne Deer, Leos, Young Artist Awards, Doras .................................. 24 Ferne Downey, Brian Gromoff, David Macniven, 20 Ken Thompson, Stephen Waddell. page Contributors: Heather Allin, Jennifer Blaney, FAREWELL Joy Corion, Sharon Davidson, Pearl Garnette, Remembering Norris Bick and Erin Hazzan, Kim Hume, Keith Martin Gordey, Patrick Christopher .............................................................. 26 Christie MacFadyen, Marit Stiles, Carol Taverner, Gary Vermeir. MEMBER SERVICES Design: Joss Maclennan Design Deals for ACTRA members ................................................ 27 Cover Photo: Rick Boland and Mary Walsh in Hatching, Matching and Dispatching. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2004-2005 Photo by Paul Daly. by Ferne Downey Printed in Canada by union labour at 27 Thistle Printing. page 24 A good story with a great ending .................................... All contents are copyright © 2005 ACTRA. All rights are reserved and contents, in whole or BACK COVER in part, may not be reprinted without permission. by Heather Allin The points of view expressed do not necessarily Banff 2005 ................................................................................ 32 represent those of ACTRA. Please return any undelivered mail to: ACTRA, 300 – 625 Church Street, Toronto, ON M4Y 2G1 PHONE 1-800-387-3516 or (416) 489-1311 Want to receive InterACTRA by email? If you’d like FAX (416) 489-8076 InterACTRA in your e-mailbox instead of by mail, email us www.actra.ca page 26 at [email protected] with your membership number. [email protected] Publications Mail Agreement #40069134 ISSN 1705-9496 C FALL 2005 InterACTRA 3 40325 ACTRA Interactra5 8/31/05 9:54 AM Page 4 All alliances are good. Some are better ACTRA Responds then others. Reactivating our informal rela- tionship with Canadian Auto Workers There is no reason to fear or mis- (CAW) would be better. ACTRA trust ACTRA’s new strategic alliance During our traumatic struggles on the with the USW. It is merely one more in west coast (early ‘90s), the CAW provided and the a long record of partnerships that ACTRA expertise, organizational support, political has formed throughout our history, and it and labour connections – even sponsored does not preclude us from making even a Canadian Cultural Policy conference at more partnerships with like-minded allies their Port Elgin educational centre which, USW to meet common goals. with CAW support, was adopted by the To be absolutely clear, this is not an affili- CLC – all without cost to a cash-strapped I can’t believe that ACTRA has signed ation and does not involve any exchange of ACTRA. They did this, and much more, an alliance with the Steelworkers. money between ACTRA and the USW. It only on a handshake, through immediate Even more unbelievable is the fact it was is a three-year alliance that can be renewed telephone responses, and, tellingly, while all done without our knowledge. when, and if, we continue to find it to be seeking nothing in return! When our juris- ACTRA explored a similar arrangement beneficial.