IATSE_1stQrtr_2018_web

injured workers for one year after the
date of the injury; and
n improve benefits both for surviving
spouses and children when a worker
is killed on the job and for young
workers who sustain a long-term
injury that affects their career opportunities.
In the Province of Ontario, the campaign
for change to Ontario’s employment
laws was led by the Ontario Federation
of Labour. Vice President Lewis
served on the Leaders’ Committee, Canadian
Counsel Ernie Schirru served
on the Legal and Research Committee,
and Representative Hurdon served on
the Steering Committee and the Union
Communicators Committee. The tcampaign
and the review process, known as
the Changing Workplaces Review, was
a two year process which culminated in
the passing of Bill 148: Fair Workplaces,
Better Jobs Act in November 2017. Bill
148 contains a number of important
amendments to minimum employment
standards and labour relations procedure,
including:
n ability of trade unions to apply to the
Ontario Labour Relations Board to
obtain an employer’s list of employees
prior to actually filing an application
for certification;
n expansion of card-check certification
to prescribed industries including
building services, home care and
community services, and temporary
agencies;
n improved access to first contract arbitration;
n mandatory three weeks’ vacation after
five years of service with the same employer;
n minimum pay of three hours for
shifts under three hours or when a
shift is cancelled with less than 48
hours’ notice;
n domestic or sexual violence leave – for
which the first five days are paid followed
by an unpaid period that can
extend up to fifteen weeks; and
n increases to the minimum wage to
$14 per hour in January 2018 and to
$15 per hour in January 2019.
New Canadian Cultural Strategy
As previously reported, the Minister
of Canadian Heritage, Mélanie Joly,
announced back in April 2016 that the
Federal Government would be conducting
a sweeping review of Canadian cultural
policy, with a focus on digital technology,
called, “Strengthening Canadian
content creation, discovery and export in
a digital world.” The scope of the review
was massive and it was critical that the
IATSE participate.
IATSE’s participation started with an
online survey, which helped to determine
the Ministry’s focus and priorities. IATSE
then engaged in lobbying high-ranking
bureaucrats and officials within the Ministry
of Canadian Heritage. To this end,
Vice President Lewis and Representatives
Neville and Hurdon worked in conjunction
with IATSE Canada’s lobbyist Isabel
Metcalfe to arrange lobbying opportunities.
Thereafter, once the Ministry struck a
Standing Committee charged with having
oversight of the review process, the IATSE
Canadian Office worked with IATSE’s
Locals across Canada to schedule meetings
with committee members in their
home ridings across the country. These
meetings were then followed up with
IATSE’s filing of formal written submissions.
Vice President Lewis and Representative
Hurdon then went to Ottawa and
joined other industry stakeholders for
the Ministry’s announcement of Canada’s
new cultural and digital content strategy.
The Ministry’s strategy includes many
positives as advocated by IATSE, including:
n a commitment to increase investment
to support both domestic production;
n a commitment to promote Canadian
content abroad;
n the creation of a joint industry-government
council to brand Canada
globally;
n an agreement with Netflix that will see
the company investing a minimum of
$500 million in Canadian productions
over the next five years; and
n an increase in the Ministry’s contributions
to the Canada Media Fund
which supports the country’s television
and digital media industries.
Lobbying
IATSE Canada will once again participate
in the annual National Lobby
Day, organized by the Canadian Labour
Congress, in February 2018. Representatives
Peter DaPrato, Jason Vergnano and
Krista Hurdon will represent IATSE along
with CLC Delegate Vipond. The Canadian
Office is encouraging all Locals to
send representatives as well. The focus of
this year’s lobbying day will be on, among
other things, the creation of a national
pharmacare program.
IATSE Canada will also be participating
in the upcoming first ever Canadian
Media Producers Association lobbying
event in Ottawa in February 2018 which
is aimed at educating politicians on the
importance of the motion production
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