EXCLUSIVE: Major international arts and entertainment unions, employers, industry groups and governments agreed on their first framework in ten years to improve workers’ rights after a week of tough negotiations in Europe.
The high-level technical meeting, held February 13-17 at the International Labor Organization (ILO) in Geneva, Switzerland, was the first for the entertainment world since 2014, according to UNI Global Union. The ILO is an organization of the United Nations agency, which trying to make work fairer and fairer.
The first signs of the meeting were a positive outcome and a blueprint was drawn up to address the “lack of decent work”, including a reduction in working hours; to give all managers and freelancers nationwide access to comprehensive social security systems and to use government funds to address the shortage of skilled workers.
Representatives from, among others, Bectu, IATSE and SAG-AFTRA, which represent more than 1 million employees, attended the talks together with the European Broadcasting Union and the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations.
Ministers from several countries in the European Union, Africa, Asia and Latin America were also present to sign the landmark draft, although no one from the British or US government was present.
The group discussed issues such as long working hours, low wages and inequality before reaching its conclusions, which placed a strong emphasis on collective bargaining as a tool to improve working conditions.
Philippa Childs, Head of the UK Broadcasting Union Bectu and Vice President of Sector Media Entertainment & Arts of UNI Global Union (UNI MAY), said: “We have made great progress and these conclusions will enable us to put pressure on employers and governments exercising to important topics on our agenda, especially long working hours in our industries.
“The pandemic has given employees the opportunity to reflect and really think about the impact of long and unsustainable hours on their work-life balance. Many have left the industry and it is uncertain that they will return, leading to the skills shortages we have in the UK and globally. We need to improve working conditions and opportunities if we want to change this situation.”
Power rights and safer work environments
Another important item on the agenda was how producers, artists and writers can be more effectively rewarded for their work for global streamers. Today’s move highlights the importance of copyright and related rights and calls on governments to ensure fair payment.
The rise of AI and new technologies was also discussed during the talks, with Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, national executive director and chief negotiator of SAG-AFTRA, saying: “Artificial intelligence offers extraordinary opportunities but poses a real threat”. while he demanded a “human intelligence” centered approach”.
Among other things, the blueprint calls for strong labor inspection systems to ensure a safe and healthy work environment, including combating violence and harassment; and investments to create a greener industry. Overall, inequality in the sector needs to be addressed “from a diversity, equality and inclusion perspective,” says today’s document.
The blueprint will be approved at an ILO meeting next month, after which it will become an official document.
As talks began last week, Johannes Studinger, head of media and entertainment at UNI Global Union, told Deadline: “The arts and entertainment industry is struggling with new business models and distribution channels, but the demand for the workers who make these productions is changing so can be made fair.
Today, John Lewis, International Vice President at IATSE in Canada, described the result as “a positive result”.
“This creates a starting point to stimulate further discussions with national governments to improve access to collective bargaining, improve copyright protection and address long hours that affect all people around the world who work in this industry,” he added.
The news comes as workers’ rights are back in the spotlight this month after Britain’s Film & TV Charity’s latest Looking Glass survey suggests the cost of living crisis has put up to 35,000 workers in the country at financial risk. Good news: The survey found that 80% of respondents agreed that they felt a positive change in company culture and behavior.
Many workers in the entertainment industry worldwide have been affected by Covid-19 in recent years, with many companies downsizing or spending less on freelancers. Problems such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the high cost of living further damaged economies.
In recent years, there have been high-profile strikes at companies such as Amazon over workers’ rights, and a writer’s strike is currently underway in the US over a dispute over foreclosures.
Source: Deadline
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
