UPDATE! (January 21, 2025): ACTRA Members Vote To Ratify New Independent Production Agreement in Canada – Read full statement here
ACTRA, the largest performer union in English-speaking Canada, is negotiating a renewal of one of its major collective agreements, the Independent Production Agreement (IPA), with the Canadian Media Producer Association (CMPA), the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM) and the AMPTP. This agreement defines minimum terms and conditions, including rates of pay, for performers in film, television productions and digital media projects in Canada or on location outside Canada.
Since the last agreement, set to expire at the end of December 2024, the industry has undergone substantial changes. Artificial intelligence, for example, has become ubiquitous, presenting new opportunities for content production but, more importantly from a performer’s perspective, threatening to disrupt the labour market and raising serious concerns about job displacement from the unchecked use of these technologies. Performers, especially audio artists, are particularly vulnerable as their personal features, including their voice, image and likeness, may be used without consent to create digital replicas or even synthetic performers whom they may be competing with for work.
In line with FIA’s AI guidelines, and building on groundbreaking union language in this field, ACTRA is negotiating robust protections based on informed consent, control and compensation. These measures aim to ensure that generative AI is used as a tool to enhance human performances rather than replace them.
ACTRA is also seeking to modernize its residuals structure to better align with the evolving value chain in the streaming industry. The shift to shorter series with fewer episodes, combined with strict exclusivity clauses and the rapid growth of streaming platforms drawing audiences away from cable and other traditional outlets, has significantly impacted the income performers once relied on from conventional media. Tailoring residuals to these changes is essential for performers to maintain suitable incommes in this new ecosystem. Monetary adjustments are, of course, also a significant focus, with vital fee increases required to keep pace with inflation.
FIA and several of its affiliates, including SAG-AFTRA and Equity, attended the initial bargaining sessions as observers and have witnessed firsthand the determination and foresight of the ACTRA bargaining team, as well as the steadfast resolve of the membership supporting them. The outcome of this IPA negotiation is crucial for Canadian performers but also holds the potential to further consolidate new international standards on key issues faced by performers worldwide. These developments are therefore of significant importance to the global performer community, and we monitor progress through regular updates with the leadership. FIA and its member unions affirm their full support for ACTRA and stand ready to assist their Canadian colleagues in achieving the robust, fair and modernized agreement they deserve.