LEGAL CONTEXT
In Quebec, a special Act* on labour relations in film, television and other areas imposes requirements on producers hiring artists for positions included in a bargaining sector defined by the CRT**.
This Act entitles artists’ associations to seek recognition as the exclusive bargaining agent for specific sectors. Once recognized, they can oblige a producer or a producers’ association to negotiate a collective agreement setting minimum hiring conditions for the artists they represent. To date, ten artists’ associations and technicians’ unions have been recognized in respect of some one hundred positions legally defined as held by “artists” (director, writer, actor, composer, DOP, editor, art director, decorator, hairdresser, etc.).
Producers may fulfil the negotiation requirement by joining a producers’ association that negotiates the necessary collective agreements on behalf of all its members. The APFTQ has signed collective agreements with most of the recognized artists’ associations in the areas of film and television.
Producers who prefer not to join the APFTQ must negotiate directly with the recognized associations or unions and conclude a separate agreement with each one on the minimum hiring conditions for the artists it represents. Non-member producers are entitled to use some of the collective agreements signed by the APFTQ subject to authorization and the payment of an administration fee. For full details, contact us.
* Act respecting the Professional Status and Conditions of Engagement of Performing, Recording and Film Artists (R.S.Q., c. S?32.1)
** Commission des relations du travail
QUEBEC PRODUCERS
Quebec producers may become Regular, Trainee or Permittee members. This gives them access to all collective agreements governing the industry and to consulting services on industrial relations (collective agreements, occupational health and safety, training, work permits) and financing.
- Regular members (link to The APFTQ; Becoming a Member; Regular Membership) play an active role in the association, determine its general policy, are entitled to vote and have access to all services.
Regular membership application form - Trainee members (link to The APFTQ; Becoming a Member; Trainee Membership) play an active role in the association, determine its general policy and have access to all services but are not entitled to vote.
Trainee membership application form - Permit Holders
(link to The APFTQ; Becoming a Member; Permittee Membership)
have access to the APFTQ’s industrial relations and financing
consulting services on a per-project basis.
Permit Holder application form
PRODUCERS FROM OTHER CANADIAN PROVINCES
For shoots in Quebec, producers from the rest of Canada may become Regular members of the APFTQ if they are substantially engaged in film or television production in Quebec.
If not, they may become Permit Holders on a per-production basis. As such, they have access to all industry collective agreements and related hiring contracts, and to industrial relations and financing consulting services throughout the production. The per-production fee is calculated as 0.55% of the total budget, to a maximum of $16,000 Once this maximum is reached, producers are entitled to a $2,000 rebate if they pay a training fee to the Regroupement pour la formation en audiovisuel du Québec (government-certified training collective).
