Steelworkers will walk picket line with actors

NEWS RELEASE

UNITED STEELWORKERS

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ACTRA negotiations with producers on the rocks

TORONTO, Dec. 22 - United Steelworkers' (USW) National Director Ken Neumann [shown] said Friday the 280,000-member union stands fully behind Canadian actors poised to take strike action following the breakdown of negotiations with producers demanding next to no pay increases along with other concessions.

"Actors are like anybody else," said Neumann. "They are skilled workers who aren't willing to be exploited. Our union has a strategic alliance with ACTRA, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists. We have sat with them at the bargaining table and we will stand with them on the picket line."

Neumann said the offer made to renew the film and television agreement with independent producers would only serve to force more performers to leave the country to pursue their profession.

"The producers who support this terrible offer are doing an incredible disservice to Canadian culture. It's time for Canadians to stand up for these workers who entertain us, enlighten us and give us something more than CSI to
watch on TV."

When negotiations with producers got underway in October, USW International President Leo W. Gerard said, "I know I speak for all Steelworkers when I say we're on call to assist our actor friends in any way we can."

The current Independent Production Agreement expires Dec. 31, 2006 and, armed with a more-than 97-per-cent strike mandate, ACTRA will be in a position to take strike action as of New Year's Day.

No new talks are currently scheduled.

USW and ACTRA have a formalized strategic alliance that includes working together on public policy, organizing, education and mutual support in the case of labour disputes.

The alliance was signed at the USW International Convention in April, 2005.

In Canada, the USW represents more than 280,000 men and women working in every sector of the economy.

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