The Writers Guild of Canada (WGC) and the Canadian Media Producers Association (CMPA) announced early Tuesday that they’ve reached an agreement in principle for a new Independent Production Agreement, averting a potential strike.
WGC members had been working without a contract since Dec. 31 and overwhelmingly voted to authorize job action late last month, a first in the guild’s 33-year history.
Terms of the new three-year agreement, which establishes working conditions and rates for writers, story editors, and story consultants haven’t been disclosed and will be distributed by WGC for ratification.
Among the improvements being sought were protections around the use of AI for both live action and animation writers, better compensation for animation writers, and minimum staffing on shows once they are in production.
“We are pleased to have reached a fair agreement with the CMPA that will protect the
livelihoods of our screenwriter members and maintain stability in the Canadian film and
television industry,” said Victoria Shen, WGC Executive Director, in an announcement. “We feel the new agreement includes important protections for Canadian screenwriters and balances the concerns of our producer partners.”
“We are proud to have come to terms on an agreement that truly values the important alliance that exists between Canadian screenwriters and independent producers,” added Sean Porter, the CMPA’s Vice-President of National Industrial Relations and Counsel. “I want to thank the individuals on both sides of the bargaining table for their commitment to finding solutions that serve to benefit the future of our sector and Canadian storytelling on screen.”
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