In late October 2024, over 50 union leaders and members of FIA and UNI MEI from across Latin America gathered in Sao Paolo, Brazil, for a three-day joint capacity-building seminar. The event was preceded by a half-day of separate meetings for the FIA-LA delegates, setting the stage for crucial discussions and knowledge sharing aimed at strengthening the power and sustainability of trade unions across the region.
This seminar, part of an ongoing project funded by Union to Union and the Swedish union Scen&Film, focused on increasing the capacity of Latin American union leaders to influence policies in the arts and entertainment sectors. The project aims to provide unions with the tools to navigate challenges and secure more equitable conditions for workers.
The gathering opened with a special focus on Brazil, the host country of the event. Rita Telles of SATED-SP and Sonia Santana of SINDCINE welcomed the participants and offered an insightful overview of the current political climate in Brazil. They discussed the political challenges affecting unions in general, with particular emphasis on the arts and entertainment sector, which has faced significant shifts in recent years.
One of the central themes of the seminar was collective bargaining and platform work. A panel discussion on ongoing negotiations and strikes featured union leaders from Argentina, who shared valuable insights into their negotiations and the strategies employed during recent strikes. They were joined by delegates from Canada and the United States, who presented the new provisions in their respective agreements and highlighted the strategies used to challenge the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.
This session emphasized the need for unions to remain vigilant and adaptable in an evolving market increasingly dominated by digital platforms. The dialogue around collective bargaining remains vital in ensuring that workers’ rights are not overshadowed by corporate interests in the streaming and entertainment sectors.
A highly anticipated round table discussed the growing influence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the creative industries. National and international experts provided a comprehensive overview of the technologies disrupting the audiovisual sector. The discussion focused on the intersection of creativity and technology, addressing concerns about job displacement, intellectual property, and the role of AI in content creation. The session underscored the need for unions to demand specific legislation and provisions to protect workers from the potential negative impacts of AI with a human-centric perspective prioritizing informed consent.
Two sessions were dedicated to the crucial issues of equality and inclusion within the sector. Session 1 focused on exploring the challenges workers face in terms of discrimination and marginalization. Through small group discussions, participants examined concrete scenarios and role-played potential actions that unions could take to address these issues. Priority topics included racial equality, equal pay, LGBTI+ rights, ageism, and disability rights within the industry.
This session was concluded with an inspiring keynote speech by Giselle dos Anjos Santos from CEERT, who addressed the deep-rooted racial inequality in Brazil, especially with regards to access to work and wage disparity. Her speech called for a concerted effort to eliminate racial discrimination and promote fair opportunities for all workers.
Session 2 followed up on the Charter of Cooperation, which was adopted at the previous regional seminar in December 2023. This session provided an update on the campaign launched in July 2024, promoting safe, inclusive, and respectful workplaces in Latin American audiovisual and live entertainment sectors. Attendees heard testimonies from Panartes and FIA-LA members, with a particular focus on the growing importance of intimacy coordinators to prevent sexual violence and misconduct.
The session also set the stage for next steps, including participation in an upcoming ILO webinar on the ratification of Convention 190 and the prevention of violence and harassment in the workplace in the audiovisual sector in Latin America.
The final roundtable provided a platform for representatives from Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil to discuss the national political challenges and opportunities facing trade unions. It was a pivotal discussion that highlighted the need for continued solidarity and collaboration across borders.
In the closing moments of the seminar, participants reaffirmed their commitment to future joint projects and collaboration, signing two declarations of support for Argentina and Colombia (available hereunder). The seminar served as a vital step toward strengthening unions and advancing the rights of workers in the Latin American audiovisual and live entertainment sectors.
Declaration of Solidarity with affiliates in Argentina in Spanish, in Portuguese and in English.
Declaration in Support to the Colombian and Latin American intimacy coordination teams in Spanish, Portuguese and in English.
