West, NDP stand with ACTRA artists and push for protection of workers' bargaining rights

QUEEN’S PARK – NDP Labour critic Jamie West (Sudbury) passionately addressed the lockout issues ACTRA artists are experiencing during Question Period today. This unfortunate situation arises from ad agencies' failure to bargain in good faith and prioritize the well-being of workers.

"Almost a year ago, the ad agencies who hire these artists demanded a 60% cut to rates, an end to retirement contributions, and an end to their benefits,” said West. “Then, rather than bargaining in good faith, these same ad agencies locked out ACTRA members and hired scab replacement workers.

It is completely unacceptable that ad agencies like FCB and Leo Burnett, who are responsible for a significant portion of the Government's advertising, resort to using scab replacement workers for Crown corporation ads, such as OLG and Metrolinx.”

West told the Premier that these workers had been abandoned by the Ford Conservatives for nearly a year and asked Ford to commit that the Government of Ontario, and the Crown corporations accountable to it, not use replacement scab workers in any Ontario government funded ads.

West concluded by calling on the Government to take bold action and pass the NDP's Anti-Scab Labour Act. This crucial legislation would end the unjust use of replacement workers and safeguard the fundamental bargaining rights of workers, including ACTRA artists.