Collective Advocacy by Professional Performers

ACTRA is member-driven union working to secure rights and respect for the work of professional performers. Our efforts include consultation and lobbying with the provincial and federal governments as well as public education efforts.

"For far too long artists have subsidized Ontario culture by accepting very low incomes, often without access to the rights and benefits enjoyed by other workers."

— Report on the Socio-Economic Status of the Artist in Ontario

Status of the Artist in Ontario

Artists' work is crucial to the economic and cultural well-being of our province, whether the work is done by actors, musicians, writers, dancers or visual artists. We continue ask that artists be able to benefit from some of the basic protections enjoyed by other workers.

A Collective Bargaining Regime for Artists

Teresa Tova, Spirit Synott and other members rally at Global's season launch.

ACTRA and other artists' unions have a long history of achieving rights and benefits for their members through collective bargaining. Many other artists have not been so fortunate. In the absence of a legal framework within which to compel bargaining by engagers, those artists have very little bargaining power. This needs to change so that artists can benefit from their collective strength just as other workers can do.