Canadian actors put strike plan on hold

Wages and new media remain sticking points

By TAMSEN TILLSON

In a reprieve from an imminent Canadian actors' strike, thesps agreed Friday to postpone a walkout in favor of "last-ditch" efforts to reach an agreement with producers.

The union repping Canadian actors and the associations repping producers have been working to hammer out a new Independent Production Agreement since October. Wages and the contentious realm of new media have remained sticking points, however, and talks between the two broke down Dec. 21.

The current IPA expired Sunday, and the union says it was in a legal strike position as of Monday.

Producers say that the two sides agreed Friday to return to the table on Wednesday, and thesps will hold off on a strike "at least until bargaining breaks down," according to a release from the Canadian Film and Television Production Assn.

"It appears that they're willing to significantly increase their monetary offer," said Steve Waddell, chief negotiator for the Alliance of Cinema, Television and Radio Artists, "so we're going back to the table to make one last-ditch effort."

Waddell added that he is recommending a talks deadline of midnight on Sunday. "If we don't get a settlement by then, we'll be pulling the plug," he said.

"I'm very pleased that ACTRA has agreed not to attempt to strike at this time and are ready to get back to bargaining," said John Barrack, chief negotiator for the CFTPA. "Having said that, the issues left on the table are significant."

"I'm confident that all parties understand the importance of this process and are determined to find an agreement soon," added Guy Mayson, prexy-chief exec of the CFTPA. "We need to focus on building a stronger and more robust production sector together."

Labor instability contributed to a sharp downturn in production in Toronto last year.