EQUIFLASH [NOTICE TO PROBATIONARY MEMBERS AND APPRENTICE PERFORMERS]

[CAEA e-drive]

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NOTICE TO PROBATIONARY MEMBERS AND APPRENTICE PERFORMERS
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Equity's Council recently completed an extensive review of the requirements for joining the Association. Changes to the joining process come into effect in 2013, and significant fee structure changes to the 2012-2015 CTA will take effect on December 31, 2012. 

If you were either a "Probationary Member" in the last three (3) years, or you have accumulated sufficient Apprentice credits for membership eligibility but have not yet chosen to join Equity, you should consider your membership options before these changes take effect.

Equity is offering the opportunity to join to anyone eligible for membership. This option to join must be exercised before the end of this year.

UPCOMING CHANGES TO MEMBERSHIP ELIGIBILITY INCLUDE:
* Probationary membership for performers will be entirely eliminated but performers will still be eligible to join Equity by accumulating Apprentice credits or by working in the new category of "Permittee" under the CTA or ITA. A combined limit of four (4) Probationary (existing) and/or Permittee engagements (in future) will be allowed, after which time an Artist must join Equity if he/she wishes to continue to work in our jurisdiction. There will be no expiry date on the accumulation of engagement permits.

* Non-members working under an Equity contract will now be Permittees. Unlike probationary members previously working under contract, Permittees will no longer be eligible to access any of the benefits available to full Equity members, including access to insurance coverage. As of April 1st, 2013, Equity will also be rolling out a new and improved insurance program that will offer year round coverage for those members who have worked at least eight (8) weeks in the previous year.

* A new Permittee filing fee will now be calculated as a percentage of weekly fees (8% of the weekly fee plus an amount equal to an insurance premium paid by full members). This filing fee will replace the existing Probationary Membership registration and permit fees. The filing fee is much more equitable as it is scaled to the fee earned, rather than a flat amount charged regardless of the length of the engagement or weekly fees paid to the artist. The portion of the new Permittee filing fee credited towards initiation fees will expire after three (3) years.

* Apprentice credits may still be accumulated under ITA and other Equity agreements. There remains no limitation on the number of Apprentice credits an Artist may acquire but the Apprentice credit payments credited toward an initiation fee will expire after three (3) years.

Existing Equity members as of December 30, 2012 (when the material conditions of the new CTA will take effect) will automatically qualify for a CTA "Engagement Level 1" contract. Members who join Equity after December 30, 2012 will be engaged under a CTA Engagement Level 2 contract until such time as they have accumulated 18 weeks of engagement over a three-year period. Of course every artist continues to be free to negotiate over-scale.

Given the changes to both the CTA fee structure and the pending insurance plan improvements, there may be significant advantages to becoming a member of Equity at this time.

Equity encourages any probationary member or apprentice performer who believes that they are eligible for Equity membership to contact Colleen Didur, Membership Administrator, at membership at caea.com 1-800-387-1856 (416-867-9165 in Toronto). She will review your file and answer any questions you may have. She will also provide the necessary forms to membership applicants.

Don't delay contacting Equity for more information. A completed membership application and initiation fee must be postmarked by December 30, 2012 in order for a new member to be automatically eligible for Engagement Level 1 contracts under the CTA. 
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Canadian Actors' Equity Association
44 Victoria Street, 12th floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 3C4
tel: 416-867-9165 ext. 243
fax: 416-867-9246
communications at caea.com
http://www.caea.com

The foregoing communication is intended only for the use of the individual or individuals named above and should not be read by or delivered to any other person. Such communication may contain information which is privileged, confidential or otherwise exempt from disclosure. Any collection, use, disclosure, forwarding or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this information in error, please accept our apology and immediately return the communication to the sender by electronic mail and destroy the message. See also Equity's Privacy Policy available at www.caea.com.