MEDIA ADVISORY: ACTRA ESCALATES WENDY’S BOYCOTT

August 21, 2023 – On Tuesday, August 22, ACTRA, the union representing performers who make commercials, will be demonstrating outside multiple Wendy’s Canada locations across the country to bring public attention to the ongoing labour boycott of union-busting brands. Wendy’s fast-food outlets are one of the major brands using an advertising agency that has locked out ACTRA members for more than 16 months.

“Wendy’s Canada is working with a union-busting advertising agency McCann who is directly damaging the wellbeing and livelihoods of thousands of ACTRA performers,” said ACTRA National President Eleanor Noble. “In an attempt to bust our union, for 16 months the ICA has shamefully refused to bargain fairly with ACTRA. We are urging consumers to take their business elsewhere.”

Wendy’s boycott rallies: Tuesday, August 22, 2023: 

MONTREAL, QC

WHAT:                       ACTRA Montreal rally in front of Wendy’s 

TIME:                         12pm – 2pm ET  

LOCATION:              Embargoed to accredited media

WHO:                         ACTRA members in attendance include ACTRA National President Eleanor Noble, ACTRA Montreal President Simon Peacock


TORONTO, ON
 (2 locations):

WHAT:                       ACTRA Toronto rallies in front of Wendy’s

TIME:                         12pm – 2pm ET  

LOCATION 1:           Embargoed to accredited media

LOCATION 2:           Embargoed to accredited media

WHO:                         ACTRA members in attendance include ACTRA Toronto President David Gale

VANCOUVER, BC

WHAT:                       UBCP/ACTRA rally in front of Wendy’s 

TIME:                         12pm – 2pm PT

LOCATION:              Embargoed to accredited media

WHO:                         ACTRA members in attendance include UBCP/ACTRA President Ellie Harvie


Since April 26, 2022 the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) and their ad agencies locked out ACTRA performers and have failed to bargain fairly. Click here for more information on our lockout and boycott of union busting brands.

The Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists is the union representing commercial performers in Canada. The National Commercial Agreement (NCA) is the collective agreement that preserves minimum rights and protections for ACTRA performers in the commercial industry. For 60 years the NCA has guaranteed fair working conditions, benefits and competitive pay for on-and off-camera performers in commercial productions in Canada. 

To schedule an interview contact:


Anna Sikorski, ACTRA Montreal: asikorski@actra.ca;

Jennifer McGibbon, ACTRA Toronto: jmcgibbon@actratoronto.com;

Max Bygraves, UBCP/ACTRA: communications@ubcpactra.ca;

Tony Walsh, ACTRA National: twalsh@actra.ca;

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Save The Dates: ACTRA Fights Back!

graphic that reads "Tuesday August 22" "Protest union busting advertiser" "Wendy's, Montreal Toronto Vancouver"

Escalation of Wendy’s Boycott – August 22nd

On Tuesday August 22nd, ACTRA members will hold four information pickets across Canada promoting our boycott of Wendy’s and its union busting ad agency McCann.

ACTRA members will urge diners to go elsewhere during the lunch hour at two Toronto Wendy’s restaurants and one each in Montreal and Vancouver. We don’t want to give Wendy’s notice of where we will be, so save the date and watch your inbox for more details, instructions, and locations.

graphic with text that reads "Friday August 25" "NCA Solidarity Rally with SAG-AFTRA" and "STAND WITH SAG-AFTRA/WGA Writers Guild of America"

NCA Solidarity Rally with SAG-AFTRA in Toronto August 25th

On day 486 of the ICA’s shameful lockout of ACTRA performers, SAG-AFTRA L.A. Vice President Michelle Hurd will join ACTRA National President Eleanor Noble and ACTRA Toronto President David Gale in Downtown Toronto for a rally at 10 am ET along with sibling union leaders. Please spread the word. Friends and family are welcome.

Join us in exposing advertising agencies, the AMPTP studios, and streamers for their corporate greed and demand they fairly compensate ACTRA, SAG-AFTRA and WGA members.

Together let’s take a stand outside the Canadian Headquarters of Amazon and Apple. Watch your inbox for more details on ACTRA Branch activities on this National Day of Solidarity with striking and locked out union performers and writers.

Join us.

Please save these important dates!

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