Canada’s major film and TV unions are stepping up their efforts to push Telefilm, the country’s leading film funding agency, to adopt more stringent policies regarding production funding. A coalition of eight major unions and guilds, representing over 87,000 Canadian film and TV professionals, is calling for Telefilm to only support productions that are in “good standing” with industry unions.
This move follows two meetings between the coalition—comprising key groups like ACTRA, the Writers Guild, and the Directors Guild—and Telefilm earlier this year. The unions have been advocating for updated guidelines that they believe will better protect workers in the film and television sectors. However, the coalition claims that Telefilm’s recent policy updates did not address their concerns, leaving workers vulnerable to poor working conditions.
In response, Telefilm emphasized its commitment to fostering fair working conditions within Canada’s audiovisual industry and stated that it continues to engage with the unions to explore “sustainable solutions.”
In an open letter released today, the coalition criticized the current “lax” policies, arguing that they not only fail to protect workers but also jeopardize taxpayer investments in the industry. With the next public assembly set for November 28, the coalition is calling for immediate action to ensure that all funded productions meet the necessary standards for fair labor practices.
As the industry grapples with these issues, the coalition remains steadfast in its push for reforms to safeguard the rights of Canadian film and TV professionals
Source: Swifteradio.com
