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Update:
- Cineflix has chosen to pay a $2.5 million settlement to workers rather than pay $1 million and sign a collective agreement with unions.
- In a statement issued in late March to the unions CWA Canada and IATSE, Cineflix Co-CEO Glen Salzman said the decision was in the best interest of the company, CBC reports.
- “We have learned a great deal through this process, and we are very confident that our policies and practices surrounding factual production are consistent with the employment standards across the industry,” he said.
- If Cineflix had opted to sign the agreement, it would have been the first time a production company in Canada formed a collective agreement with workers.
Cineflix Class Action Settlement Overview:
- Who: Cineflix workers could share in more than $1 million as part of class action settlement.
- What: The class action alleged the Toronto-based production company violated Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.
- Where: The settlement was with workers in Toronto, Ontario.
(09/30/2021)
Workers at Factual TV company Cineflix could share more than $1 million after a settlement was reached between the production company and two Canadian media and entertainment unions.
The two unions — CWA Canada and IATSE — say the settlement would be for all employment standards entitlements, including overtime pay, vacation pay, and holiday pay for almost all Cineflix employees or independent contractors dating back to October 2016, CTV News reports.
The settlement was reached after three years of negotiations with the Toronto-based production company, the unions say.
Cineflix Employees Claim Unfair Working Conditions
The class action lawsuit was originally filed in 2018 on behalf of hundreds of current and former Cineplix staff, after CWA Canada held a five-year “Fairness in Factual” campaign to bring fair working conditions to the industry. IATSE joined the campaign in 2019, with the formation of the Factual Television Joint Council.
The Cineflix Media group includes Cineflix Productions, Cineflix Rights, Cineflix Studios, Buccaneer Media, Connect3 Media, Husk Media, and a hub of producers from the US, UK, and Canada, the company website states. It produces TV shows including “Property Brothers” and “Mayday.”
The unions say Cineflix has until March to decide whether to sign a collective agreement that has already been negotiated or pay an additional lump sum, according to CTV News.
A $35 million unpaid wages class action lawsuit was filed against Insight Productions, another Toronto-based production company, over allegations it owes unpaid overtime, vacation pay and holiday premiums to hundreds of workers.
Insight has worked on popular reality shows including “The Amazing Race Canada,” “Big Brother Canada” and “Battle of the Blades.”
According to the unpaid wages class action lawsuit, Insight’s employment contracts failed to comply with Ontario’s Employment Standards Act.
What do you think about this employee entitlements settlement? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
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