DGC BC (Directors Guild of Canada, B.C. District Council) members have voted 92.2% in favour of a strike mandate.
Held this week, the vote follows a breakdown in negotiations after a year of trying to reach a new three-year collective agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA).
The DGC BC Collective Agreement covers the categories of Director, 2nd Unit Director, Production & Unit Manager, plus those employed in the various Assistant Director and Locations Departments, including entry level Production Assistants.
The organization says among the sticking points in the negotiations are minimum wage differentials for lower-paid positions; payment terms for COVID testing; retroactivity of wage increases; and demands for further concessions.
“We thank our members for the solidarity they have shown with this overwhelming mandate. Their strength and resolve make it clear that respect, fairness and safety in the workplace are non-negotiable,” said Allan Harmon, District Council Chairman, DGC BC, in a release. “We are fighting to achieve and maintain fundamental rights for everyone working under our collective agreement.”
Vote sends message of labour uncertainty: Producers
AMPTP and CMPA – BC issued a statement earlier in the week, saying a strike authorization vote would send a message of labour uncertainty in the province and “seriously jeopardizes British Columbia’s reputation as an attractive location for motion picture production.”
“Considering the potential for labor instability in British Columbia, companies represented by the AMPTP and CMPA may be forced to re-evaluate their plans for basing new productions in the province,” their statement continued.
The two organizations say the agreement on the table includes across-the-board wage increases, outsized increases for the lowest-paid classifications, outsized wage increases for Location Managers, the creation of a new and higher-paid Key Background Coordinator classification and increased benefits for members working on certain high budget SVOD productions including residual payments for Directors. The producers say after being close to reaching an agreement, DGC BC made additional demands that were not part of the mediator’s recommendations.
“Our goal is to reach a fair agreement. We all care about this industry, so let’s roll up our sleeves, get back to the table and find a solution,” said Kendrie Upton, Executive Director, DGC BC. “That is the best way to ensure long-term labour stability.”
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