As an eligible voter in the National Commercial Agreement (NCA) referendum, you were emailed a voting information package from ACTRA National on August 25.

As we were preparing for negotiations this past spring, we heard in focus groups and through member surveys about the need to improve terms and conditions and options that would help create new work opportunities for ACTRA members.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

Commercial work, with very few exceptions, stopped. As with the film and television side of our work, the impact of COVID-19 on the advertising industry has been substantial.

As the industry carefully starts up again, our priority is the development of health and safety protocols and policies for audition and work environments to help the industry reopen and get performers back to work. We are also working with the Engagers and industry partners on identifying steps to ensure greater representation of Black, Indigenous and People of Colour in the advertising industry.

Faced with the impact of COVID-19 on the industry, we have agreed to extend the current collective agreement by one year to focus on recovery and the positive steps we can take in our agreement to create and improve work opportunities.

Your ACTRA Toronto Council voted unanimously to support the ratification of the tentative agreement that extends the terms and conditions of the NCA for a year without any changes or concessions.

If you have not already done so, read the Memorandum of Agreement and vote.

Voting closes at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2020.

Learn more about referendum voting procedures. If you have any questions, please e-mail us.