Canadian writers seem able to strike as they maintain contract talks with the nation’s indie movie and tv producers.
The Writers Guild of Canada revealed 96.5 p.c of eligible members voted to authorize a strike if a brand new cope with the Canadian Media Producers Affiliation can’t be reached. “This strike authorization vote, a primary within the guild’s 33-year historical past, represents a pivotal second for Canadian screenwriters,” WGC government director Victoria Shen mentioned in an announcement on Thursday.
The outcomes of the WGC membership vote don’t guarantee a piece stoppage will happen, however presents the Canadian union the chance to strike if ongoing negotiations with native movie and TV producers over a brand new Unbiased Manufacturing Settlement don’t attain a settlement.
Key hindrances within the Canadian labor talks are securing honest compensation for writers, protections towards evolving synthetic intelligence applied sciences on reside motion and animation initiatives, and minimal writers room staffing on home TV sequence. “Whereas a robust strike mandate doesn’t essentially imply we’ll strike, it tells the producers we’re able to defend ourselves if crucial. We stay dedicated to negotiating a good settlement for our members,” Shen added.
Points within the WGC crosshairs in talks with native producers like AI protections, compensation for writers and minimal TV writing workers sizes additionally figured in negotiations final 12 months involving the Writers Guild of America and the AMPTP, which led to a protracted Hollywood writers strike earlier than a brand new contract may very well be agreed on.
The Canadian strike authorization vote follows six months of negotiations on a brand new IPA deal between the WGC and the CMPA. The earlier contract expired on Dec. 31, 2023. No dates have but been confirmed for resumed talks between the WGC and CMPA negotiators.