For the Fight

Dear Members,

There’s no beating around the bush—on January 27, 2025, ACTRA National Council approved a dues increase. The first one in 18 years. Yesterday, the National Council approved the dates for an upcoming referendum, which will open on March 6th at 12 PM ET. Click here for a quick look at the proposed changes, then come back and hear me out.

When I ran for Council, it never occurred to me that I would be bringing you this news—25% production decline on the IPA, and over 1000 days locked out of the NCA. I know exactly what you must be thinking: When so many performers are struggling with the realities of being an artist in an economic climate that seems bent on challenging our aspirations and dedication – why an increase and why now?

Over my first year on Council, through the careful financial stewardship of Paul Constable, ACTRA Toronto Treasurer, and our Director of Finance August Lew, I began to see that we would have to make some difficult decisions together. The National Council introduced a proposal to make changes to our dues structure last fall. In Toronto, council put together a financial task force where we analyzed our finances in depth. We also reviewed the dues structures of other creative unions and we realized ACTRA had fallen critically behind. 

By the time I was elected President of ACTRA Toronto, I knew I would be responsible for helping to shepherd you through this. My hope is that, with transparency, you will come to see this increase as both necessary and a step toward the future of our union.

The future of our union is threefold:

1. Protecting What We Have

These changes will allow us to continue the important work of keeping members safe on set, holding employers accountable, and ensuring union representatives are available when something isn’t right. I’m not saying we always get it perfect—I am saying we are committed to sustaining and growing these protective efforts.

2. Promoting ACTRA Toronto as a Skilled Creative Trade Union

We administer collective agreements so employers work with our world-class performers across all categories. We showcase the diversity within the membership. And when the work is done, we shine a light on the artists making audiences laugh, narrating dramatic tales, flipping tables, and winning awards. We are a union of wildly talented people bringing culture to life through our work.

3. Advocating for What Comes Next

As one of the only trade unions in the world that covers performance work, our collective agreements are among the first to include language safeguarding against the exploitative threat of AI. But there’s more to do. With this increase, you are investing in our ability to campaign for legislation and bargain aggressively to protect creative labour.

As a commercial voice performer, you must know that I stand with those of you who wonder—will we ever get the work back? 

To this, I say: 

Our union is the best vehicle we have to fight like hell for this jurisdiction. And I didn’t run to be your President to let it fade away. Commercial work is the backbone of many careers. To honour those who have been sounding the alarm for a decade, I vow to work with you to take action. We have already won two contracts back, bringing over a million dollars in wages with them. 

With this dues increase, I’m not just asking you to find additional funds for your union—I’m asking you to come closer and engage so we can push back against the forces of capitalism that seek to divide us and the austerity that threatens the arts when we need creative commentary more than ever.

It was your Council that reviewed and suggested changes to the dues structure, and in the end, your Council voted to bring this motion to amend the constitution to you for a referendum. While you are welcome and encouraged to call staff with questions, I urge you to share your thoughts, concerns, and doubts with Council—we are the ones who looked at the books and said, we have to do something.

We believe this increase is necessary. We do not believe it is easy or a foregone conclusion. But we hope that, over the next 10 days, you will take a close enough look at the financial health of our union to say:

For the fight. For the future. For the members. I vote YES.

The choice will be yours when voting opens on March 6th at 12 PM ET and closes March 20th at 12 PM ET.

In solidarity,
Kate Ziegler
ACTRA Toronto President