MEDIA ADVISORY: SOLIDARITY RALLY FOR SAG-AFTRA & WGA

Graphic with photos of three people. Text reads "ACTRA Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA and WGA", "Downtown Toronto" at the top, and the titles and names of each person: "Michelle Hurd, VP Sag-Aftra National, LA", "Eleanor Noble, President, ACTRA National" and "David Gale, President, ACTRA Toronto"

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.

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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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