The US MTV reality television production, Real World is trying to refuse to engage Australian crew under the Film and TV Crew Contract (MPPA), the agreement every other production in Australia is prepared to use to engage crew. American crew have been engaged under all the terms and conditions of the MPPA, while Australian crew have been asked to sign these entitlements away. The production has offered Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs) with rates of pay in some cases less than the minimum rates from the MPPA.

Australian crew on this production, if they sign the AWAs, will have lost all entitlements to normal working conditions on set such as -

• Night loadings
• Higher duty allowances
• Public Holiday pay
• Saturday and Sunday loadings
• Overtime being paid at double time or triple time
• Turn around times
• Any travel, accommodation or per diem allowances
• Safety code

The American producers can try to do this because of the Work Choices legislation the Federal Government introduced last year.

This production has put the way that crew are engaged on set in the future in jeopardy.

We have already received indications from other producers that whilst they don’t agree with what this production is trying to do, if crew agree to these terms on this production then other US producers will seek to put crew on similar contracts. This would put an end to the MPPA and the conditions that crew have fought over the years to achieve and maintain on set.

We need to protect the future of our industry.

What can you do?

Show your support by clicking on the link below and signing our petition online

Send the petition's link to your workmates in the industry, http://www.alliance.org.au/realworld.html.

With your support we can send a clear message that the Australian crew will protect fair entitlements being a part of our industry.