Equity’s National Performers’ Committee today voted unanimously in favour of balloting members to decide if a strike should be called on all offshore commercials from August 7. This is in response to SPAA’s sudden decision to rip up the Offshore Commercials Agreement without any warning or consultation. NPC has recommended members vote in favour of strike action. See our full press release here.

The latest round of redundancies at The Australian brings the number of staff laid off by News Ltd this year to more than 100. Last week the national newspaper has sacked seven of its longest-serving photographers with collective service at the company of more than 150 years. The Alliance has called on the management of The Australian to front staff and explain the latest round of job cuts as required under the Enterprise Bargaining Agreement.

Improved long service and redundancy provisions, annual pay increases (linked to the musicians’ agreement) and the opportunity to advance through the pay band are some of the wins the Alliance and the members in administration and production at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (MSO) have negotiated for a new collective agreement. Last week the MSO circulated the final agreement to staff and voting will close today. Queries Eleisha Mullane on 1300 656 512 or eleisha.mullane@alliance.org.au

The Age’s Julia Medew was named Young Australian Journalist of the Year at a cocktail event in Sydney last night for her outstanding series of medical stories which uncovered wrongdoing in the Victorian health system. Julia will fly to the US and UK to visit major media organisations in London, New York and Washington, with $5,000 spending money. Congratulations to Julia and all category winners (print, radio, television, online and photography), who can be viewed here.

NIDA is refusing to meet with Equity to discuss issues surrounding a feature film they are producing with AFTRS called One More Day. Equity is concerned about the potential sale of film to commercial networks, where it could be used to count towards their local content obligations, instead of fully funded drama production that employs and pays performers. If you are a former NIDA student and are concerned about this issue please email drew.macrae@alliance.org.au to sign on to our letter to NIDA expressing our concerns.  View the letter here.

The Alliance is shocked by the decision made by Screen Producers Association of Australia (SPAA) this week to unilaterally terminate the SPAA/MEAA Commercials Offshore Agreement effective from 7 August 2009 without any consultation. The Alliance will be consulting with performers over the next two weeks as to how they wish to respond to this attack on their rights. The Agreement between the SPAA and the Alliance sets the minimum terms and conditions, and broadcast and other rights for artists working on television and theatrical commercials produced in Australia – predominantly for use by overseas advertisers.

Congratulations to the members at the Old Melbourne Gaol who defeated a proposed non-union agreement that stripped away conditions and only guaranteed a 6 per cent pay rise over 4 years. 80 per cent of staff voted against the proposal.

Recently, the producers of Don’t be Afraid of the Dark approached the Alliance seeking changes to the MPPA but because crew worked with their union they were successful in protecting daily turnaround, restricting shorter weekend turnaround, limiting night shoots and shifting the radius to 25km instead of 30km. These are significant wins given past experience with big budget offshore producers and the Alliance congratulates all crew involved in the negotiations.