ACTRA escalates boycott – targeting six multi-national brands

TORONTO (September 29, 2023) – The International Federation of Actors (FIA) and its affiliates in 70 countries around the world stand in solidarity with ACTRA performers in the fight to end the 521-day lockout by the advertising agencies represented by the Institute of Canadian Agencies (ICA).

“We know globally the advertising industry is attacking unions and the performers we represent,” said Gabrielle Carteris, FIA President. “FIA’s worldwide membership is calling out the unscrupulous corporations who are working with the ICA – refusing to negotiate fairly with performers – to maximize their own profits. This attack on ACTRA in Canada is an attack on all of us.”

At FIA’s Executive Committee meeting on September 29 in Istanbul, FIA’s board unanimously passed a resolution supporting locked out ACTRA performers in Canada and endorsed ACTRA’s expanding boycott of union busting brands. FIA’s Executive also supported unanimous motions in support of SAG-AFTRA members and the Actors Union of Turkey (AUT). “It has never been clearer that global corporate giants are determined to impoverish workers” said Marie Kelly, ACTRA National Executive Director and VP of FIA. “Now more than ever our unions must collaborate and share what we are doing at each of our bargaining tables.” 

ACTRA is now asking workers around the globe to not shop at six new international brands: Volkswagen, Visa, Lindt, Rakuten Kobo, John Frieda and Johnson & Johnson.

“FIA’s endorsement is elevating our boycott on an international level,” said Eleanor Noble, National President of ACTRA. “We appreciate FIA’s support for ACTRA’s boycott of brands that use ICA’s union busting ad agencies and we stand in full support of SAG-AFTRA’s battle for a fair, respectful and equitable agreement – as we do for the AUT’s fight for dubbing performers.”

Last week ACTRA members were appalled to learn the details of the disrespectful proposal from the ICA that would slash performer rates 50 to 60 percent.

For more than 60 years the NCA has guaranteed fair working conditions, benefits, and competitive pay for on-and off-camera English-language performers in commercial productions in Canada. The bargaining teams for the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA) and ACTRA have continued working together to preserve and stabilize the industry.

About FIA:

The International Federation of Actors (FIA) is a global federation of performers’ trade unions, guilds and professional associations. Founded in 1952, it represents several hundreds of thousands of performers with some 85 member organisations in 60 countries around the world.

About ACTRA:

ACTRA (Alliance of Canadian Cinema, Television and Radio Artists) is the national union of professional performers working in recorded media in Canada. ACTRA represents the interests of over 28,000 members across the country – the foundation of Canada’s highly acclaimed professional performing community.

Media Contacts:

Carol Taverner, ACTRA National Public Relations Officer, Tel: 416-644-1519, Email: ctaverner@actra.ca

Anouk Van Den Bussche, FIA Head of Communications, Tel: +32 488 154914, Email: abussche@fia-actors.com

FIA representatives from around the world don ACTRA t-shirts in a show of solidarity with ACTRA’s small delegation attending FIA’s Executive Committee meeting.