The ACTRA NCA with ICA and ACA has expired

“It is shocking that ACTRA would expect ICA signatory agencies to accept being treated less fairly than non-signatory agencies and ACA members for whom ACTRA provides open access to opt in/opt out privileges which reduces union work for its own members. We simply want a level playing field for the industry and an NCA with an honest and transparent foundation for all users”

- Scott Knox, ICA President & CEO

The National Commercial Agreement (NCA) that existed between the ICA, the Association of Canadian Advertisers (ACA) and the Alliance of Canadian Cinema Television and Radio Artists (ACTRA) expired on April 26th, 2022.

The New NCA from June 1, 2022

We understand that a new NCA will begin on June 1, 2022, between ACA and ACTRA.  This new agreement has no binding effect on the ICA or agencies, whether members or non-members.  For more information on the new NCA’s terms, please contact the ACA or ACTRA

Signatory Status

As the NCA expired at one minute past midnight, April 26, 2022, and in accordance with its Appendix K in the negotiation protocol, this means that any agency’s previous signatory status expired with the NCA on the same date.  Please contact the ICA’s Scott Knox should you require the full legal details of the NCA’s expiry and implications.

Hiring Union and Non-Union Performers

Due to the expiry of the previous NCA, all agencies may now use union and non-union talent in line with their client’s budgets or instructions.  Instead of becoming a full signatory to the new NCA, agencies may contact ‘third-party” payroll companies to access ACTRA members, a practice permitted by ACTRA for many years.  Should an agency wish to become a signatory to the new agreement they should contact the ACA or ACTRA.  Please seek full legal advice before becoming a signatory to the new NCA, as you may find that becoming a signatory impacts all types of work across all your clients.

For further information

Scott Knox scott@theica.ca

ACA - https://acaweb.ca/en/

ACTRA - https://www.actra.ca/

Previous NCA - https://www.actra.ca/agreements/nca/