Monday, December 1, 2014

RRSPs - Part 2

If you have read my previous post on Equity's RRSPs, you will know that returns on our funds are right up there with others available in our industry. We offer eight options that run the gamut from the very conservative to the very aggressive. Invested in several of them, members would have doubled their money within ten years, and that's including a period that spans the last recession. Not too shabby.

However, it doesn't matter in the least how good the returns are, if:
  • We can't deposit your RRSP contributions into your fund; and 
  • You don't leave them there.
Every month, we publish a list of members for whom we are holding RRSP funds, but who have not opened an RRSP account. You've seen it, I'm sure. If you are on this list, we are holding onto your money, but cannot deposit it into your account until you fill out the really simple paperwork.

If we cannot deposit your money in your account, it will eventually get donated to the Actors' Fund of Canada. A very worthwhile cause, to be sure, but not the same thing as contributing to your RRSP. If you haven't already opened an RRSP account, please follow these instructions, and fill in this form, and keep what you've been giving away.

Then, leave the money in there and let it grow!

Each year, a truly astonishing amount of the contributions made are withdrawn. I'm not talking about members who transfer their money into some other registered investment. Nor am I talking about members who withdraw some of their money for one of the reasons that RRSPs allow for – lifelong learning, or putting a downpayment on a house, for instance – or to deal with a sudden financial crisis.

I'm talking about members who withdraw their RRSPs in cash, all of it, and regularly.

This is a tough business, and money is frequently/always tight. Even at the best of times, it's difficult to save for tomorrow. So why not make use of the opportunities that exist? The amount of money diverted from your paycheque is small, but the opportunities for its growth are very good. It makes no difference to Equity whether you withdraw money from your RRSP or not, but it sure could make a huge difference to your future

And then the next time I post a comparison of RRSP returns, it won't just be some bit of abstract trivia. You'll be able to say to yourself: "Excellent, and I've got a piece of it!"

Monday, November 24, 2014

RRSP Comparison - 2014 edition

Last year I decided to do a comparison chart of RRSP returns after a friend asked how ours stacked up against others available to the industry. Time for an update (results below). I'm pleased to report that our funds continue to perform well.



These results (annualised returns) are from the most recent month end, as provided in member reports. Equity offers eight funds, Association 1 offers two, and Association 2 offers five. Note that some Association 2 funds are relatively new, so they do not show up in all the clusters.

Looking at our slate of conservative, moderate, balanced, advanced and aggressive funds, they continue to perform exactly as one might expect. Conservative and moderate (medium red, green) have some variation over time, but pretty much chug along year after year with fairly consistent results: low volatility, with decent (if modest) returns.

The balanced fund (purple) has a little bit more swing to it over time, but comes out well in the long term. This is our default fund, and accounts for over 80% of all retirement assets, with 75% of participants holding this fund.

The advanced, aggressive and global equity funds (light blue, orange, medium blue) certainly do very well when they do well, but they are also higher risk investments and have much more volatility. The chart above doesn't show annual data, but the down years for these funds tend to be just as pronounced as their up years. As a result, they still end up in the same ballpark as all the others on a ten year horizon. Depending on when you buy in, a member could do quite nicely. Or the opposite. If only one could know in advance when these were going to skyrocket and dip…

The ethics fund (deep red), being comprised entirely of stocks, is also subject to the ups and downs of the market, but has performed very well over time. The lowly money market fund (short, dark blue) is not really an investment fund as such, and is only included here for completeness. It can be useful in circumstances when stability of capital is more critical than growth.

All told, we have 8 different funds so that members at various ages and stages of their career can put together the investment mix best suited to them. Members contribute from every pay cheque, and have the ability to make additional contributions as well.

RRSP season is all year round for Equity members, so if you have questions about where your money is being held, and whether it is the right mix for you, your "retirement" horizon (I use the word loosely) and your risk tolerance, give Great West Life a call and talk to an investment advisor. They can, well, advise you. If you already did that some years ago, don't forget to do it periodically to keep up to date. Maybe do it now before the February RRSP crunch hits.

And of course, the all-important disclaimer: past performance is no guarantee of future results, etc.

Monday, October 6, 2014

Did you know? - Dues remission

Since 1990, Equity has offered dues remission to senior artists within each of its disciplines. Upon application, eligible members may be granted relief from payment of basic (annual) dues. Further details and application instructions can be found here.

The thresholds for eligibility are:
  • age 65 for performers, stage managers, directors, fight directors and choreographers
  • age 55 for opera singers
  • age 45 for ballet dancers 
We've recently completed some bylaw changes to increase member awareness of the option. Commencing later this year, all members newly eligible will receive notice and application information no later than the first dues billing period for which remission would be available. Of course, members who decide not to apply at that point, and quite a few do, can still apply at a later time.

There are a few important things to know about dues remission.
  • Dues remission is not automatic - you must apply for it.
  • You must be a regular member in good standing at the time of application, and have at least ten prior years of regular membership in good standing.
  • Dues remission affects basic (annual dues) only - working dues are still payable.
  • Dues remission is not mandatory – many members have elected to continue to pay basic dues in support of their Association.
  • Dues remission does not affect membership rights or obligations, nor RRSP or insurance coverage.
If you need to know more about dues remission, please contact either office, and staff will be glad to assist.

Monday, September 15, 2014

Did you know? - Member insurance

What is my insurance coverage?

Such a simple question: five words. Would that it could be answered in as few. Since it can’t, here is the answer condensed into as few words as I could manage…


For all members in good standing, year-round, off-contract coverage looks like this:

If you worked a minimum of 8 weeks at insurance levels 2-4 in the previous calendar year, off-contract coverage also includes:
  • 50% of eligible medical expenses incurred as a result of sickness

To find out if you reached that threshold, log into your profile online. In the top right section, you will see your off-contract insurance eligibility listed. You can also find this info included on your insurance receipt each year.

When you are on-contract, your coverage bumps up to the appropriate level for the contract and premium you are paying:
  • Levels 1-3: 85% of eligible medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident or illness
  • Level 4: 100% of eligible medical expenses incurred as a result of an accident or illness
  • All levels: disability (income replacement) coverage
Some important things to know:
  • Your on-contract insurance level is determined by the performer minimum scale fee for the contract in question (since that also determines the premium), not the specific fee you may have negotiated. More info can be found on p. 2 here.
  • If you have a contract with level 4 coverage, on-contract coverage for all subsequent contracts in that calendar year is also at Level 4, even though you may only be paying a level 1-3 premium.
  • Treatment that begins on-contract, say massage for an injury, continues at the on-contract rate for the earlier of 3 months following the end of the contract, or 6 visits.
  • No coverage is unlimited; various annual maximums apply.
  • Paramedical claims are covered at the level of reasonable and customary charges, typically established in the fee guides set by regulatory bodies for the practitioners. You should be aware that practitioners offering "specialty" treatments, or working in spas or health clubs, frequently charge more than will be reimbursed.
  • All members in good standing also have access to the Equity dental network at no extra cost.
  • For those needing even more insurance coverage, AFBS offers Equity members preferred rates on their Arts and Entertainment Plan.
So, those are the basics, covering the vast majority of situations, in a (very large) nutshell. 

Now, do yourself a favour and click on this link. Read the insurance brochure. It will only take you about ten minutes. It's time well spent before you need to make a claim.

Monday, July 28, 2014

Did you know? - Equity's service standards

Every year, members call and write to the office a few thousand times, for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's just an information request. Other times, it has to do with an imminent or active contract, where the member needs specific details on engagement terms. Every so often, members contact the office because there is a problem that needs solving. And on top of all these service interactions with members, there are many more from engagers and others with various needs for assistance.

Equity is, at its core, a service organisation, so Council has placed a big focus on doing that well – we have written comprehensive policy to ensure the best possible service standards in all areas.

But service standards are only lip service, if you don't know what they are – what you can expect in terms of service and response times – or how to proceed if those standards are not met. And so, we've made some recent changes to up our game even further.

At the top right of our main web page is a new button labelled "Compliments, comments, criticisms?" If you have a service issue, both Council and Equity's staff encourage you to use it. Behind that button lies information on our service standards and a simple, three-step process to ensure any issue with service receives the timely attention that it deserves.

Most problems are readily solved. But for those that aren't, a formal complaint process is also available. All complaints are addressed promptly by the appropriate staff, or by Council, if the matter involves the Executive Director. But beyond that, they are also logged and reported to Council on a regular basis, so that we can watch for patterns and address them proactively.

In the context of the thousands of service interactions each year, problems are fortunately rare. However, we're all human, and sometimes things do go awry. Council and staff recognise the impact that even minor seemingly issues can have in the context of an individual production or a members' livelihood, and we are committed to identifying problems if they occur and working toward continued improvement.

Please, help us help you better.

Monday, July 7, 2014

Did you know? - Health and Safety Training for Theatre Artists in Ontario

Under an expanded initiative by the Ministry of Labour in Ontario, all workers must take basic health and safety training. Including theatre artists of all stripes. Including employees and independent contractors. In short: including you.

Perhaps the easiest way to take the training is online, where it consists of roughly 45 minutes of videos, information pages, and short quizzes. There is also a paper-based version.

The response from many in the community has been about what you'd expect…
"What a waste of time!" 
"The material is boring."
"The questions are so simple, it would take an utter fool to get the answers wrong."
"I can see how this would apply in an office/factory/construction site/warehouse/etc., but it has nothing to do with me."
Well, it does.

In Ontario, there are three levels of responsibility for health and safety in the workplace.  (I suspect it is similar elsewhere, too.) Business owners have their layer of responsibility. Supervisors have their layer. And workers have theirs. And the law says that you have to know, understand, and live up to yours. In fact, you have had this responsibility for a very long time, whether you knew it or not.

So, if you've managed this long without the training, why should you bother now?

Well, you could learn something about health and safety in the workplace, and your rights and obligations. That wouldn't be so bad. You could learn something about how to recognize an unsafe situation and respond, and save yourself from injury. That wouldn't suck too much, either. You could learn how to save someone else from injury or illness. Probably worth a few minutes of your time, no?

But if learning stuff and staying safe just isn't your thing, then consider the following. One of the owner and supervisor responsibilities is to ensure that all of their workers (including you) have the requisite training, and failure to do so is a huge liability for them. If something goes awry, and an MOL inspector wants to see copies of all the training certificates, the last thing any theatre will want to discover is that they don't have them on file for everyone involved. And so you can expect that theatres will begin to require these as a condition of engagement.

How's that for a reason?

So, invest an hour of your life in acquiring some useful knowledge, and a skill certification. You're going to need to show that piece of paper sooner or later, so don't forget to save or print it at the end of the course. (You don't want to have to watch those videos twice, do you?)

Monday, June 2, 2014

Did you know? - Withdrawal

Most professional associations and unions offer some form of honorable withdrawal from membership, and Equity is no different.

A member may choose to go on hiatus from active membership in the Association by applying in writing to the Executive Director. Full details can be found here. Really, it's pretty much as simple as dropping us a note.

Withdrawal allows you to place your membership on temporary hold, when you know that you will not be working in Equity's jurisdiction for a while. Common reasons are a return to school, new parenthood, absence from the country, etc. Withdrawal does not end your membership.

When you go on withdrawal, you are no longer charged basic dues, saving you $90 per half year. If you come back off withdrawal within one year – to accept a contract, for instance – you will be back-billed for the missed basic dues and any penalties that would have been charged had you not withdrawn. (In other words, withdrawal cannot be used to simply avoid paying your current dues.) However, if withdrawal extends beyond a year, you are not back-billed for those dues, and will owe only basic dues for the current billing period, plus a $25 reinstatement fee, regardless of the length of the withdrawal.

There are a few key restrictions to going on withdrawal.
  • You can't go on withdrawal if you are not in good standing, which means that you can't use withdrawal to avoid paying back dues, or avoid any other penalty or disciplinary action.
  • When you are on withdrawal, the rules of membership continue to apply, which means that withdrawal doesn't give you the option of working off-contract.
  • As a member on withdrawal, you are not eligible to vote on any matter, or attend membership meetings. Your RRSP remains active, but you are not eligible for insurance coverage.
Oh, one other thing. You are not officially on withdrawal until you hear back from the office, accepting your application. It's generally handled within a day or two.

Withdrawal is an honorable approach to placing your membership temporarily into an inactive status, and we strongly encourage members to use it where needed. It can save you a lot of money if you know you're going to be "out of the business" for a bit, and is much less expensive than resigning and rejoining.

If you need to know more about withdrawal, please call either office, and staff will be glad to assist.

Friday, May 16, 2014

Did you know? - Equity's Bylaws

Every so often, Council sends out notice of changes to the Association bylaws. We realise that these updates may be generally yawn-inducing, but bylaws govern the structure of our entire organisation, and it's important that you are aware of them, and any changes to them.

So, for those of you for whom Equity's bylaws are not riveting reading – and that would include pretty much everyone, methinks – here is the Reader's Digest version.

If any topic in this list is of importance to you – and that would include pretty much everyone, methinks – then you can find the whole document right here.

Happy reading!

Definitions
Membership
Membership Classes
Regular Members
Non-Resident Members
Unit Company
Honorary Members
Life Members
Associate Members
Withdrawn Members
Suspended Members
Joining Program
Engagement Permits
Limits on Engagement Permits
Apprenticeships
Stage Management Apprenticeships - Additional
Limits on Apprenticeships
Joining as a Regular Member for Performers in Theatre
Joining as a Regular Member for Stage Managers
Joining Program Fees
Withdrawal
Resignation
Expulsion
Duties Of Membership
Membership Card
Contracts
Address and Discipline
Standards Of Conduct And The Disciplinary Process
Complaints
Filing and Filing Deadlines
Verifiable Communication
Preliminary Review and Resolution Process
Privacy
Timeline for Completion
Review by Council
Hearing Committee
Hearing and Mediation Timelines
Hearing Process
Mediation Process
Appeals Process
Reasonable Accommodation in Process
Notice to Membership
Administrative Penalties
Finances And Dues
Fiscal Year
Initiation Fee
Basic Dues for Regular Members
Basic Dues Remission for Senior Members
Dues and Initiation Fee Reduction
Working Dues for Regular and Non-Resident Members
Arrears
Suspension
Meetings Of Members
National Meetings
Regional Meetings
Special Meetings
Rules of Order
Scale Agreements
Retirement And Insurance Benefits
Registered Retirement Savings Plan
Special Accident and Sickness Insurance
Council
Composition
Officers
Authority
Council Advisory Committees
Regions And Elections
Regions
Elections for Council
Eligibility for Voting and Election
Nominations and Candidacy
Voting
Referendums
Executive Director
Indemnity Of Council Members And Employees
Membership And Organizing Activities
Bylaw Amendments
Reciprocal Agreement With AEA

Friday, May 2, 2014

Council statement regarding "Helen Lawrence"

At its April meeting, Council reviewed the recent events surrounding the cancellation of Canadian Stage's presentation of Helen Lawrence at the Festival TransAmériques (FTA).

One of Equity’s chief responsibilities is to act on behalf of its members when the going gets tough. In almost all cases, that means taking the personal concerns and decisions of individual members and putting them forward as the concerns and decisions of Equity. This approach provides important anonymity and protection for member deliberation on the topic at hand.

Council supports our Executive Director’s careful handling of the review process on this production, and her decision not to go into greater public detail on the matter.

Members should also be aware that Council, not staff, sets the rules governing review of all concession requests.* Perhaps the most important among them is this: where members have already been contracted, a request cannot be approved without their majority approval.

Whether on this production, or any other, our members need to have confidence that their decisions are respected by their association and their colleagues. Council wishes to express its unequivocal support of the artists involved in Helen Lawrence, and calls upon all members to do likewise.

*For a more complete explanation of the concession process, and how requests are decided, see here.

Monday, April 21, 2014

Equity's Health and Insurance Plan

Interesting timing. I had just finished doing up a list of extraordinary risk riders for my current show a couple of weeks ago, when a friend forwarded the following link from The Stage to me:

www.thestage.co.uk/news/2014/02/performer-injured-falling-set-fears-future

Long story short: actor, in the business 20 years; never joined Equity (UK); injured on the job; no disability (income replacement) coverage; off work for at least a year; young family to help support; and worrying about being branded a "troublemaker" for seeking insurance assistance from the engager.

Contrast that with how CAEA's coverage for members works:

- no tenure requirement for coverage
- automatic coverage while on contract, from day one
- disability coverage for up to 104 weeks

I'm not certain what the insurance situation is with our sister organisation in the UK, but I'm betting it's better than "none". It's a shame the artist never saw the value of becoming an Equity member, and I wish him the best in his recovery.

Take the time to review your CAEA insurance coverage. A lot has changed in the past year. So, if the last time you read that brochure on the callboard was when you joined, it's time for a refresher! You can find all the details here

Learn about your insurance coverage. We hope you never have a critical need for it; but if you should, it's there.

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Talk to Council! We're listening.

Council is your board, and for us to do our work well, we need to hear from you. We've recently upgraded the website to make that even easier.

Take a moment, and stop by EQUITYONLINE. (Go ahead: click it!) On the front page, top right, are a few new links. Talk to Council will take you to a page where all the Councillors are listed. Clicking on the photo of any of them will open a new email window, so you can drop your Councillor a note. The Council Committees link will take you to a page with mandate and contact info for each of Council's several regional and issues committees. The final link, Request for Council Action (login required), will open up a form you can use to suggest an agenda topic for Council to tackle. And, of course, if clicking and typing is not your thing, a letter or phone call to Equity Council, via our national office, will connect you up as well.

We'd also like you to know what we are up to…

A couple of days before each meeting, Council's agenda will be posted online. Within a few days after each meeting, a summary of all motions passed will be posted. Following adoption at the subsequent meeting, full minutes will be added. You can find these under the Council Reports heading of the members-only section of the website (login required), along with a full year's worth of monitoring reports on all aspects of Equity's operations. Copies of any of these documents, as well as recent archived copies, can also be requested by contacting the office.

And while we're on the topic of Council meetings, did you know you are allowed to attend them? You can - both in-person and teleconferences. A list of upcoming meeting dates can be found here. If you would like to attend, please let us know at least a few days in advance, by contacting the Council President at president@caea.com.

Thursday, March 27, 2014

New rules for CTA ratification votes

During the 2012 ratification vote for the CTA, there was considerable member discussion on the eligibility criteria for voting. A bit of background: the voting pool for all agreements has historically been defined as members who have been engaged under the expiring agreement (typically the previous three years).

As mentioned at the time, the rationale for this approach was threefold: equal voting rights across all negotiated agreements; a ratification processes within our financial resources; and a decision made by members with the most current knowledge and whose input shaped the negotiations. Still, members made it clear that they thought it was time for a change, and Council has recently completed bylaw amendments to bring that about.

Going forward, the CTA will have a separate set of ratification rules. All members in good standing who have worked under any theatre agreement providing for minimum scale fees*, during the six year period ending with the expiry date of the agreement, will now be automatically eligible to vote. This change will increase the voting pool considerably. 


In addition, any member in good standing who is not automatically included in that six-year pool may also register to vote in the ratification. Registration will begin six months before the expiry date of the agreement, and extend until the anticipated date for close of negotiations. Advance notice regarding registration will be provided in plenty of time for members to get on the list.

Note that these changes do not affect the voting pool for the Stratford Addendum, nor any other agreement.

Council chose this dual approach as a way to balance greater automatic access with the increased costs of having a larger voting pool. We hope, through these changes, to provide voting access to our largest agreement to all members in good standing who may wish to vote. This change will be first applied to the ratification vote expected in 2015.


* This includes all current theatre agreements, except for the Festival Waiver and the Artists' Collective Policy.

Friday, March 7, 2014

2014 Honours Evening

After a year of hiatus, while we moved to a biennial schedule to reduce expenses, it was truly wonderful to attend the honours evening once again. This year's awards ceremony was held Monday, February 24 at the Daniels Spectrum in downtown Toronto, immediately following the National AGM. Councillors, past honorees and members from the area all came together to celebrate the 2014 slate of honours recipients.

Members 
Philip Akin (Toronto), Janet Irwin (Ottawa) and Kenneth Welsh (Toronto) were granted Life Membership in Equity, in recognition of their lengthy careers and manifold contributions to live performance. We also welcomed arts supporter Gail Asper (Manitoba) as an Honorary Member, acknowledging many years of support of the performing arts, in Winnipeg and across the country.


Former five-term Councillor Don Wright (Vancouver) received the Larry McCance Award in appreciation for his many years of dedicated service to the wester opera membership. And finally, the CAEA Award of Distinction was presented to Stage Managing the Arts (S.M.Arts), which, for the past 18 years has provided top-notch professional development to the stage management community. 
S.M.Arts Director Janelle Rainville and S.M.Arts Founder Winston Morgan were present to accept the award.


What a lovely way to wrap up the AGM this year. We spend so much time pursuing our own individual careers; it is a delight to get together and celebrate some truly special ones.


See more details, plus photos of the event, here.


Thursday, February 27, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - Thank you

Thank you.

Thank you for engaging and voting, however you voted.

Thank you for approving the due increase. It will allow Council and staff to plan and implement changes for improvement, instead of diminishment.

Thank you for your vote of confidence in the future of your association.

A day or so after the voting closed, a friend wrote me and said "I bet you're glad that that's all done, huh?" I understand what she meant, but I think she missed the bigger point - it isn't. The dues referendum may be over, but the purpose of the increase was to help us plan for the future – the future begins right now, and it goes on forever. First steps are clear enough: we have a deficit that we need to retire. But beyond that, we need to make good on the commitment to ongoing improvement and change.

In short, Council needs to earn the trust you have shown us through your vote. The real work of the dues referendum is just beginning, but we're up for it.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - Vote!

If you haven't voted yet, what are you waiting for? As a member, you have a say in how this association operates, and your vote is your voice. Please don't waste this opportunity to weigh in on this important decision. Voting takes mere minutes, and is about as easy as easy gets.

(I'm on a mission to see if we can't crack a 50% return rate, and you, my friend, are a key part of that plan!)


Voting closes today.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Why I voted 'yes'

I think the time has come to talk about why I voted 'yes'.

I know - you're thinking: "You're the Council President. You had to."

No, I didn't. This is not a Council vote; this is a member vote, and I vote as a member, just like you.

I am fortunate enough to have work most of the year. This proposal, which increases working dues as well, is going to cost me more than the 2011 proposal would have. I confess there is part of me that grates at that, but I voted 'yes' anyhow. The difference, for a whole year, is much less than one month of utility bills, or insurance payments, or my mortgage. It is less than I sometimes spend on a single trip to the grocery store, and I’ll admit to having coughed up far more cash on a whim for things more trivial and transient than my Equity membership.

There is perhaps 5% of our membership who, by virtue of personal status, are able to just wait for the phone to ring with their next job offer, or who are able to waltz into an engager's office and demand work terms equivalent to what Equity has negotiated. And then there are the remaining 95% of us. Including me. I recognise that Equity, by dint of long, hard work by members current and past, is responsible for most of what I have come to accept as a "given" in my career. I rely on that.

I voted 'yes' because I want Equity to be strong, not just for me, but also for the 6000 members who are not me, even if what would benefit them individually is different from what would benefit me personally. Yes, it will cost me a bit more, but I made a choice that will benefit everyone: me, members I know, and members I will never meet.

In the end, whatever you might want Equity do for you, it has to have the resources to do it, and to tackle ideas for future improvement, which will otherwise just keep gathering dust on the wish list shelf. Whom does voting 'no' benefit? Lack of resources going forward will only mean that Equity will be able to do less and less of what you want it to, and its ability to do anything meaningful will atrophy.



Nothing ever starved its way to strength. Vote for strength. I did.

Monday, February 17, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - a personal note

I've been very fortunate in my career…

There was the week when all the paycheques were "locked in the office safe" and nobody knew the combination; the time when the engager forgot that it was payday, and could not be reached; and the show when paycheques were distributed unsigned.

There was the added performance we all found out about with only two hours notice; the day a debt-collection bailiff sealed the theatre and seized the contents, including all our personal belongings; and the GM who informed me that it was "company policy" not to pay contractually-required overtime to their stage managers.

There was the producer who fired me the week before I started work, because I had the audacity to stand up for the terms of my contract; the PM who told me that meal break requirements did not apply to stage managers; and the company that had still not reimbursed my petty cash expenses a full month after the contract ended.

What's so fortunate about all that? It only took a phone call to Equity solve the problem.

I and my fellow company members could have fought any of these battles as individuals, but I'm very grateful that we didn't have to. And I'm equally grateful for the good fortune of having the vast majority of things go right, week in and week out. I can thank Equity for both. I have done a heck of a lot better over the years with their help, than I ever would have without it. 

Even as Council President, I will tell you that Equity is not always perfect, and there is always room for improvement. The past three years have seen quite a few major "upgrades" in your association, and Council hope to bring in even more. But, further improvement takes resources. And that is where you come in…

Equity has always had my back, and it has yours. If you want to keep Equity strong, and see it continue to improve, please support the dues increase.

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - guest post

Our organization is only as strong as we make it.

As one of 6000 members of Canadian Actors Equity who works hard on every contract I manage to get, and for every dollar I earn, I know I am not alone in wanting the best value for my money. I, too, will have a hard time budgeting to pay an additional $45 per year, and parting with an extra 0.25%, in dues, from the income I do earn. But, I also know that if we Equity members continue to pay only $135 in dues, we are wasting our money: that sum is simply no longer enough. We’ve already had cuts to professional development programs, and response time at Equity offices is lagging from a bare bones staff – what’s next on the chopping block? Equity negotiates annual increases to our minimum fees roughly in keeping inflation – the cost of living. I think it’s only fair that we respond in kind, to have our dues keep up with inflation – the cost of doing business. In particular given that the business in question is that of protecting our best interests – our careers. 

My vote since the last dues referendum hasn’t changed. Two years ago, just knowing that the cost of dues hadn’t increased in over a decade was enough justification for me. (Is there anything else that hasn’t increased in price since the mid-90’s?) Nonetheless, I have been very interested to see our council’s response to the results over the past two years – and it’s clear that they’ve been listening to us, and what we need from our organization. At the dues referendum info session I was able to attend, I heard several fantastic opportunities for Equity to invest in increasing the efficiency of resources – from online dues payment, to electronic contracts, to improved communication with not only existing, but also prospective, members. I also heard that streamlining and improving efficiency costs money. These opportunities, and many more, are ones that I would love to have available to me, and my colleagues – and I’m willing to invest the extra 12 cents a day to make them happen. The future of Equity depends on it – our Association is only as strong as we make it.

Melania Radelicki
Member, Stage Management

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - Burma-Shave (say what?!)

Yeah or nay,

Have your say…

Voting closes,

A week today!

(With a tip of the hat to Burma-Shave)


The only vote that doesn't count is the one you don't cast. If you haven't already done so, grab your ballot sheet and vote now - it'll take you about two minutes, tops.

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - guest post

I've been a proud member of Equity for almost 50 years, including 20 years as an elected representative on both the West Coast Advisory and National Council. Thirteen years after I last stepped off Council, I ran again in the 2012 election because I wanted to work on improving communications. Since my re-election, many Council meetings have dealt with communication: what we’re doing, what we wish we were doing, how we could clarify, simplify, reach out. Staff and Councillors have many ideas for improvement – but implementing them will cost money. I can’t think of a thing that doesn’t cost more now than it did 14 years ago, but Equity hasn’t increased member dues since I left Council in 1999! 

Council and staff have spent countless hours reviewing what we do and how we do it. We’ve done everything we can to trim costs without cutting deeply into core services. We've listened to the message sent two years ago when the dues increase failed to pass. We’ve asked and answered tough questions. I am confident that the dues increase is necessary for Equity to become the organization we all want it to be. Even though I personally may not need all the services Equity provides, someone else in the association does; CAEA was created to give strength to the weakest of us, so that as a profession we are strengthened and able to create the best Canadian live performance we can. I hope this is a view that will be shared by two thirds of the voters in the dues referendum.

Last Monday, a lively group of members came out to the Vancouver Membership Forum despite the cold to discuss the dues increase with our Executive Director, Arden Ryshpan and Council President, Allan Teichman. The discussion was multi-faceted and revealing. Everyone was passionate and committed. We didn’t agree on everything, but the respect in the room was palpable, as was the quality of the listening and openness within the group. We were talking about something very important to us all, and we opened our hearts. I felt the same pride I had when I joined my professional association so many years ago.

At the Forum, we talked a lot about how to engage more of members in the discussion and the vote. I was saddened to learn that fewer than 50% of the membership voted in the last dues referendum – a lower turnout than the pitiful 61% of Canadians who voted in the last general election. I was inspired by the ideas and energy of the group around me – determined to get out the vote and engage more of us in improving our association. I hope that spirit of engagement spreads far and wide to those unable to attend an in-person discussion. Please take the time to read the materials, ask questions, give feedback, and VOTE! Let’s set a new standard for voter turnout and launch Equity into the next exciting stage in our journey.


Jane Heyman
Councillor, BC/Yukon

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Referendum Fast Fact - How many votes are needed?

In order for the referendum to pass, the proposal must be approved by a two-thirds majority of all votes cast. CAEA is the only organisation of its type that we know of with such a high approval threshold for changes to the dues. With that kind of bar to clear, your vote counts all the more.

It’s your association – please support Equity, so Equity can continue to support you.

Monday, February 10, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - guest post

When I started with CAEA in 2005, I never gave any thought to the privileges that had been earned by the hard work of our association. Things like fair contracts, scheduled breaks, safe working conditions and insurance, I assumed were simply deserved and therefore provided. I had to ask what an RRSP contribution was (though, I've never been on the infamous 'list').

In 2010, I decided that I wanted a better understanding of what Equity was all about. I joined the Council Policy Advisory Group and marveled at the commitment, talent, care and foresight with which our organisation was being governed.

This country is huge and the number of approaches to creating our art is limited only by our imaginations. Understanding that our association is, simply that, 'ours' was incredibly empowering. The Indie 2.0 Agreement and the new Collective Agreement are two of the many testaments to the fact that our opinions matter and can make a difference - from coast to coast to coast. 

These changes take time. Undoubtedly. Personally, I would rather see it done with care and consideration - correctly and with sensitivity to how disparate our theatre landscape can be. 

I would like to tip my toque to our members across the country who have gathered information, researched, polled and laboured to ensure that we can adapt, grow and flourish.

Aaron Hursh
Member, Saskatchewan

Saturday, February 8, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - guest post

It is a century since a group of actors banded together to form Equity (the name suggested by a Canadian) in NYC. As we contemplate the upcoming CAEA dues referendum, I find myself thinking on how lucky I have been to enjoy the support, protection, working condition advances and artist solidarity that my membership in CAEA has offered me over my 40 years' involvement within it.

I have also have been fortunate to have served on Council and the Executive in the past. I know how much the staff and Council does on members' behalf with very sparse resources. Whenever Council and staff do a stand up job in engaging us in the governance of our association, as they are doing now with the upcoming dues referendum, they deserve our support and serious consideration.

As some of you may recall...I spoke against the last referendum because I felt we, the members, were not engaged in its design enough (I felt member communications from CAEA were not great) and because it only contemplated a raise in one aspect of dues income. I felt this was inherently unfair to some CAEA members.

I feel the opposite on both issues during this current referendum. It is clearly being well communicated...our input is being sought thoroughly, universally and constantly throughout the process. Dues increases are being sought in both basic and working dues. It is a balanced and well considered request.

There is no doubt that the increase is needed if that which was started in 1913 is to continue to serve us, the whole membership of CAEA, in 2014 and beyond. I will vote yes. Please consider doing so too.

David Ferry
Member, Ontario

Thursday, February 6, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - guest post

Hi. 

I would like to speak in favour of the Dues increase. I know, I know, believe me, I know. I know all the arguments for and against… and I can’t afford it either. However, after more than 14 years, I think it is about time. I believe they should have been raised every year in conjunction with the cost of living. I believe that is how it should be from here on.

I want you to understand where I am coming from, so let me tell you about me over the past couple of years… I haven’t worked, much. Sometimes I am in arrears and don’t always know from where the money will come from to pay my dues. My wife and I have a seven year old. Alison works as a Designer, a Stage Manager, and a general all-around technician (she has, of course, a Masters in Acting). That’s our life. Day to day, week to week, and month to month. It’s a struggle… We aren’t alone, this is nothing new…for too many of us.

I am not whining or complaining. We chose this career path, and there was more than enough evidence that it would be, to put it mildly, Hard. Yet, my dues are the first thing I pay… when I get money. Here’s why: for all of us.

I want us to be strong, as individuals and as a group within our society.

To be strong we need a working organisation; and it costs money run an office, to lobby, to negotiate with producers, to administer an association with 6000 members and handle many thousands of contracts and other documents each year, to have a national presence. That means we need to spend money. It can’t be the same amount we were spending 14 years ago. Every year prices go up… for everyone, not just us. If we don’t raise dues what will be the cost?

Equity's responsibility is response-ability: the consistent capacity to act effectively on our behalf. They can't do that without our help; that's our responsibility. Please support your association.

Cheers,

John O’Keefe
Member, Atlantic

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Referendum Fast Fact - Are the two parts of the proposal linked?

Yes they are.

In deciding on a proposed basic dues rate, Council also had to consider the working dues rate, and vice versa. Together, they cover almost all association expenses, and the due proposal is a balanced increase in both. There was a pretty strong message in 2011 that the membership considered a two-part adjustment to be more equitable, and Council has delivered that.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Dues Referendum 2014 - vote early, vote often

I know I'm dating myself is saying this, but I have always been a big fan of Walt Kelly's comic strip Pogo. The title of this post is a crib of the habitual election-year rallying cry of his characters. To be clear, we don't actually allow you to vote often, but if you are a life or regular member in good standing, you do get to vote, and it's important that you do.

If you'll pardon the digression, I thought I'd use this post to give you a bit of behind-the-scenes insight into the voting habits of our membership. I find them kind of fascinating, and perhaps you will, too.

First out of the gate are the early voters. These are people who, one way or another, have already made up their mind on the matter at hand, and vote within a day or two of the polls opening. Read the voting instructions; log in online, or pick up the phone and dial; make the selection; done! These voters account for about one-quarter of the returns.

Then we move into the long, dark doldrums of the mid-vote lull; voting tails off pretty rapidly by the end of the first week. It doesn't seem to matter how long that middle period is - one week or three - the mid-vote turnout is always about the same, another 25%.

Then, bam! Fully half of all members wait to cast their ballot until the last week, with roughly one-third hanging on until the very last minute. These are the people who fascinate me most. Well, second-most. Were they just having trouble making up their minds? Were they waiting until some voice or point arose that really touched them, one way or the other? Or were they, like many of us I suspect, thinking I'll vote tomorrow…well, tomorrow…well, tomorrow…What?!…the vote closes tomorrow?! Who knows. All we know is that there are always a lot of them, and we're glad they got in under the wire.

The members who really do fascinate me the most are the ones who don't bother to vote. Depending on the topic, voting return rates vary between 25% and 38%. Most of our sister associations would kill for return rates that high (yes, you read that correctly), but it still means that as many as three-quarters of members are not exercising their right to vote.

Why? Or, more correctly, why not?

This is your association, and your vote is your voice. Let it be heard! If you think the proposal should pass, please let us know by voting for it - our Staff Psychic is on vacation. If you think the proposal shouldn't pass, we need to hear that, too. (Obviously, we encourage you to vote in favour, but the decision is yours.) 

I mean, come on: this vote is all about finances. You have already paid for the opportunity to vote, don't waste your own money.

And for those who think that their vote doesn't matter one way or another, let me tell you something. The only vote that doesn't matter is the one you don't cast.

Vote! Vote early, vote often once.


PS: Someday, I would love to be able to mention, in casual conversation with one of our sister organisations, that we had a 50% turnout for our last vote. (I'll ensure emergency medical personnel are standing by, just in case.) I can't make that kind of turnout happen, but you can.