Mediation fails to end lockout – Zoom Townhall

Hello ACTRA members,

We are deeply disappointed to be sharing that the mediator has determined that the parties are too far apart to meaningfully continue the mediation process. This means the confidentiality requirement and media blackout is paused. With the help of the mediator, we were finally able to force the ICA to provide an on the record proposal that we will share with the membership.

Please join us on a Zoom townhall on Thursday, September 21st at 5 pm ET , 2 pm PT, 3 pm MT, 4 pm CT, 6 pm AT, and 6:30 NT.

We will share the ICA’s disrespectful proposal to gut the NCA and their intention to slash rates below those in the non-union commercial sector. 

We urge all members to register for the Webinar using your ACTRA membership number here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_KqjayADxQ5y73F1QXXl3hw

We look forward to speaking with you.

In Solidarity, 
ACTRA National NCA Bargaining Committee

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Happy Labour Day, ACTRA Members!

Black and white graphic that reads: Happy Labour Day, Thank you for a #hotlaboursummer, and the logo ACTRA at the bottom

Dear members, 

This Labour Day will mark the 496th day ACTRA has been shamefully locked out by the Institute of Canadian Advertisers (ICA). Our sibling unions across the border, SAG-AFTRA and the WGA, are on strike. Our industry is at a crucial moment in time. Workers’ rights and the power of collective mobilization is more important than ever. 

Since April 26, 2022, ACTRA members have come together, raising our voices in solidarity with other unions across Canada at rallies and on picket lines, standing as one against corporate greed. 

Labour Day is a time to appreciate and honour the work of those before us, who fought for fair wages and the safe working conditions we have today. And we carry on that fight.  

I encourage you to attend any Labour Day events near you. You may also visit the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) website for an evolving list of activities across the country.

Union Power – Union Strong, 

Eleanor Noble 

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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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Summer Update from National President Eleanor Noble

Hello ACTRA members,

What a summer this has been. 

SAG-AFTRA went on strike, taking on the studios just as we were invited back to the NCA bargaining table by the ICA. The good news is that the media interest over the SAG-AFTRA strike has allowed us to shine an even greater spotlight on our lockout. We have done many interviews on all forms of news media outlets (radio, broadcast news, etc.). With each opportunity, we highlighted that ACTRA members have been in a 16-month illegal lockout by the ICA. We will keep doing our due diligence in taking advantage of every platform to get the message out. 

On that note, ACTRA Toronto, UBCP/ACTRA, and ACTRA Montreal are holding an ACTRA Day of Action to protest locked out engagers. ACTRA Toronto and ACTRA Montreal dates are scheduled for Tuesday, August 22 with the UBCP/ACTRA date TBD. Please look out for further details on the time and location. As well, we encourage you to share our social media posts to help rally people to these important events for our commercial sector. Friends and family are welcome to attend in support of ACTRA performers and to end the lockout. 

We continue to stand in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and the WGA during their strike and are watching negotiations closely. In case you missed it here is the latest update from the Writers Guild of America negotiating committee after returning to the table with AMPTP Friday.

As a sign of our support, we are planning a cross-Canada rally that we hope will take place on Friday, August 25 to show solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA & WGA strikes. Once again, when the details are confirmed, it would be great if you could share them widely on social media. 

We will provide an update on the NCA once we are out of the current blackout. Please visit www.actra.ca/nca/ for the latest updates and FAQs. 

Until then, thank you for your continued support and solidarity. These are interesting times, and we are doing everything necessary, at this critical point of change in the evolution of our industry, to protect ACTRA and its jurisdictions in all ways possible. 

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