[e-drive][EQUIFLASH: SUMMER NEWSLETTER]

[Kevin Patrick Robbins]

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 EQUIFLASH: SUMMER NEWSLETTER
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The Summer 2003 edition of the Equity News is now available online at
the association Web site: http://www.caea.com/news/

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 SUMMER ARTICLES
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1) CTA RENEGOTIATED, UP FOR RATIFICATION

Weeks of amicable negotiations with the Professional Association of
Canadian Theatres have resulted in sweeping changes to the Canadian
Theatre Agreement.

In a couple of weeks, members who have worked under the current CTA or
ITA in the last three years will be receiving a detailed package in the
mail with all the changes and a ballot to vote on the ratification of
the new agreement. The new terms are unanimously recommended by the
negotiations committee and council.

Among the changes to the agreement are alterations to the compensation
model for calculating fees, improvements to the non-professional quota,
and separate fees for commercial theatre engagers. New to the agreement
is the inclusion of fight directors to be represented by CAEA and a
side-letter of agreement on the formation of a child-performers joint
task force between PACT and Equity.



2) FIGHT DIRECTORS LAND SAFELY IN CTA

A milestone was reached on behalf of fight directors during the latest
round of negotiations for changes to the Canadian Theatre Agreement.

Theatres operating under the CTA will be required to give first
consideration to existing Equity fight directors. Members of Fight
Directors Canada and the Society of Canadian Fight Directors or any
other affiliated fight directors society will be considered to be Equity
fight directors, signed to an Equity contract and will join the
association if engaged by a PACT theatre.

Non-member fight directors cannot be engaged under terms less favourable
than those of the CTA and shall be offered a CTA engagement contract. In
other words, a non-member fight director cannot undercut an Equity fight
director by agreeing to work for less.



3) INSURANCE ADJUSTED, MOVES IN-HOUSE

The preservation of the independent contractor status of actors,
directors and choreographers has informed the latest Canadian Theatre
Agreement negotiations. The largest changes have occurred in the
administration of the retirement savings contributions and the payment
of insurance premiums.

Members will have a minimum fee increase equal to the value of the
insurance premiums previously paid by the theatre, which will then be
deducted from the individual member and remitted to CAEA.

Upon ratification of the proposed 2003-2006 CTA, you will pay for your
own insurance and Equity will assume full responsibility for setting the
rates and any risk of shortfall in the plan. 



4) EMERGING ARTISTS ELIGIBLE FOR STAGE WEST-EQUITY AWARD

In September 2003, Canadian Actors' Equity Association will proudly
award one of its emerging members with a cheque for $2000 in recognition
of their professionalism, artistic excellence and innovation. The Stage
West Emerging Equity Artist Award, generously initiated by Stage West
Theatre Restaurant in honour of Equity's silver anniversary in 2001,
will recognize an Equity member each year for the next decade.

"This award recognizes the valuable asset this country has in young
talent. We feel, as one of Canada's largest employers of performers and
backstage crew, Stage West has a responsibility to assist and encourage
the development of that talent," says Howard Pechet, Executive Producer
of Stage West Theatre Restaurants.

The award will be given to a theatre artist who has been a member of the
association for less than three years and will be adjudicated by
Equity's honours committee, comprised of elected councillors and
advisory members.




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