Stand up for rates

TL;DR
Inflationary costs and food insecurity are hitting Canadian workers hard, including those in Canada’s entertainment industry. Collective agreements like ACTRA’s Independent Production Agreement (IPA) provide critical protections, including minimum rates and financial benefits. However, these agreements rely on the collective strength of the membership to ensure their terms are upheld.

(7-minute read)

The Cost of Living Crisis

While inflation has started to cool and interest rates are declining, the cost-of-living struggle is still very much real. The price tag on goods and services remains high and, for many, wages have not kept up with inflation.

A new report released by Feed Ontario revealed approximately 40 per cent of food banks in the province have scaled back the amount of food they provide each visit amid “record-high demand.” The report also cited Ontario food banks saw a 25 per cent increase in people accessing food banks over the previous year (April 1-March 31) with about 43 per cent of visitors never having used a food bank before.^[1]

For those employed within Canada’s entertainment industry – most of whom are precarious workers – financial need has also skyrocketed.

For many in the entertainment industry, the recovery from the effects of the 2023 U.S. actors and writers’ strikes – which brought many projects in Canada to a standstill – has been slow, and the impact remains significant. From April 2023 to March 2024, The AFC provided $3.8 million in emergency financial aid, including over $3.1 million in special assistance for those whose livelihoods were directly affected by the U.S. strikes.

While the increased need for financial assistance is probably the most visible, it’s only a part of the picture. Interest in our financial wellness events and workshops continues to grow as concerns about managing rising costs weigh heavily on the minds of industry professionals. Over 70 per cent of our audiences engage with our financial and mental wellness programming in terms of interest and participation, underscoring the importance of this type of content.” ~David Hope, Executive Director, The AFC.

How the IPA Supports Performers

Thankfully, many workers across Canada do have the benefit of being protected by the terms and conditions outlined in their collective agreements, including specific financial clauses.

For ACTRA members working on film, television and digital media productions under the IPA, the agreement includes workplace protections such as health and safety standards, respect and equal treatment, and guidelines for auditions and self-tapes. Importantly, it also ensures protections that help stabilize their financial well-being, such as:

• Minimum Rates: Performers are guaranteed minimum pay rates, with the ability to negotiate above them.
• Annual Increases: Rates and fees receive modest annual increases to reflect changing economic conditions.
• Retirement Contributions: Producers contribute 7 per cent of ACTRA Full members’ gross earnings to their retirement plans and deduct an additional 3 per cent from members’ fees for retirement contributions.
• Insurance Benefits: Producers contribute 5 per cent of gross fees (including use fees) to members’ insurance benefits.^[2]

Beyond the Basics: Additional Benefits

The IPA also guarantees other financial streams for Performers. Payment for hair, makeup and wardrobe fittings, travel time and expenses as well as a per diem allowance to cover personal expenses when travelling (which the producer is required to provide in advance, so Performers are not out of pocket when they arrive to a destination for work) also contribute to a Performer’s income.

While Performers currently do not receive payment for a first audition, the IPA does guarantee payment if a Performer is detained by the Producer for more than one hour before the start of an audition or if a Performer is engaged to take part in another Performer’s audition.

These financial terms have been negotiated or strengthened over the years into the IPA to ensure Performers are fairly compensated for their time and work – though in some cases it is up to the Performer or their agent to ensure the employer meets the obligations outlined in the collective agreement.

Why Your Rights Matter

We all know being a performer takes courage and strength. It’s a competitive industry with performers always vying for their next gig. When it comes to getting that next job, some Performers either may not be aware of their rights or are willing to accept less than the terms of the IPA to secure it.

Either way, not only is this a contravention of the IPA, but it also diminishes the rights and protections of your ACTRA colleagues. You should be paid for your time and work – do it not just for yourself but out of solidarity with your sibling ACTRA Performers.

“No collective agreement is complete unless it protects the health and future financial security of workers,” says Downey. “We are often encouraged to live in the present—or even in the moment. However, as Performers, being at our best means also considering the future, especially when income opportunities are likely to decrease in our later years. That’s where the shared vision of ACTRA and AFBS comes in.”

Call to Action

Your collective agreement is only as strong as the membership behind it. It is up to all members to ensure the protections and benefits available to ACTRA members who work under the IPA, specifically the financial terms, are met. Not only do you deserve it, you, as a membership, have earned it.

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References

[1] Hunger Report 2024: Unravelling at the Seams, Feed Ontario, December 2024;

[2] See article A3804 (Maximum Contributions) of the Independent Production Agreement (January 1, 2022, to December 31, 2024, pg. 99) for exceptions.