Solidarity has no borders. This is what solidarity looks like as ACTRA hosts a rally outside Amazon headquarters. Thank you to all the unions who joined us to stand up to greedy agencies, studios and streamers. End the strikes! End the shameful 16 month ICA lockout of ACTRA performers.
day of action
ACTRA Members picket Wendy’s in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver
The voice actor who served as the “VOICE” of Wendy’s for five years joined fellow ACTRA members in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver this week to picket several Wendy’s locations and convince consumers to stop supporting this union busting brand. Wendy’s ad agency, McCann, is one of many who have been greedily locking ACTRA members out of commercial work for 16 months now.
MEDIA ADVISORY: SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR SAG-AFTRA & WGA
August 23, 2023 – This Friday, the Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television Radio Artists (ACTRA) will hold a solidarity rally in support of striking Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and Writers Guild of America (WGA) members.
This rally coincides with day 486 of the unlawful lockout of ACTRA performers by the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA) and the brand advertisers they represent.
“ACTRA stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA. The issues they are fighting are our issues. Advertising Agencies, studios and streamers need to stop their corporate greed, making huge profits at the expense of our livelihoods,” said Eleanor Noble, ACTRA National President. “Enough is enough! It’s time to get back to the table and make a fair and respectful deal with us.”
SAG-AFTRA National Vice President, Los Angeles, Michelle Hurd will join Noble and many other ACTRA Members and sibling unions for this rally in downtown Toronto as ACTRA exposes advertising agencies, studios, and streamers for their corporate greed.
The SAG-AFTRA strike began over a month ago, while writers have been on strike for nearly four months and ACTRA performers have been locked out for 16 months by the ICA.
When
10 am Friday August 25, 2023
Where
Amazon and Apple Headquarters: 120 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5J 0A1
Speakers
Eleanor Noble, Michelle Hurd, other high-profile performers, and union leaders
Broadcast
The rally will be streamed live on ACTRA National’s Facebook Page.
UBCP-ACTRA
will also hold a solidarity rally at the Vancouver Art Gallery at 11 am PT on Friday. The Vancouver rally will be streamed live on UBCP/ACTRA’s Instagram page.
For more information about the lockout of ACTRA performers and the union’s 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.
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;
Save The Dates: ACTRA Fights Back!
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.
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!