Members of the Directors Guild of Canadians in British Columbia voted overwhelmingly to allow the strike, after a year of negotiations over a new contract reached an impasse.
The union announced that the vote passed with 92.2% support, with 86.2% of eligible members voting in favor. Union officials hope the vote will give negotiators leverage to secure larger concessions in talks with film and television producers.
“We thank our members for the solidarity they have shown with this massive mandate,” said Alan Harmon, chair of the British Columbia Syndicate of Columbia. “Their strength and determination make it clear that respect, fairness and safety in the workplace are not negotiable.”
The union – which represents 1,700 film and television workers in the Vancouver area – called a vote on the strike on Monday, the first in its history.
A strike threatens to halt production in Vancouver, which has become a major hub for TV series in recent years thanks to tax breaks from regional and national governments.
Products already made in the province will be protected in the event of a strike, as the British Columbia Labor Relations Board has mandated the use of “safe harbor” agreements during negotiations. And new products can still come into the county and sign the safe harbor agreement until the strike is actually called.
In a statement issued this week, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Canadian Media Producers Association warned that the vote to authorize the strike sends “a message of labor uncertainty in the province and seriously threatens British Columbia’s reputation as an attractive location for film production.”
“Given the potential for employment instability in British Columbia, companies represented by AMPTP and CMPA may have to reassess their plans to establish new products in the province,” the employer groups said in a statement.
In response, the General Directorate of the Qur’an said employers were threatening to withdraw their jobs in retaliation for the vote.
“The bottom line is that the best way to ensure long-term business stability is for both parties to reach a fair deal for everyone working under the DGC BC collective agreement,” the union said.
The union seeks increases in the minimum wage, particularly at the lower end of the wage scale. They are also seeking to pay the increases retroactively until March 2021, when the final contract expires. Employer groups say they have offered a proposal that includes blanket increases.
The Labor Council sought to mediate the dispute. The DGC represents directors, site managers, production assistants, and other workers.
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