With the current concerns over crewing levels on productions in Ireland FMI and SIPTU have been at work to ensure the two organisations have a new agreement in place to deal with procedures and problems that may arise on indigenous productions.
At a recent meeting between Pat Keenan of the Services & Industrial, Professional Trade Union's (SIPTU) and Kevin Moriarty and Jonathan Kelly of Film Makers Ireland (FMI), It was agreed that FMI would use all appropriate endeavours to ensure that its members comply with the terms of the standing agreement between FMI and SIPTU (and any agreement entered into between FMI and other film unions). For this purpose, FMI has accepted that all productions and production companies effectively controlled by FMI members should be governed by the provisions of the relevant agreements. This applies in particular to Section 481 production companies which, although not legally owned or controlled by an FMI member, have one or more FMI members on their boards of directors and are utilised for films produced or executive produced by FMI members.
It has been agreed that any disputes or grievances between SIPTU and any producer or production company shall initially be referred by SIPTU to FMI. Both SIPTU and FMI have undertaken to act in good faith to resolve any such disputes or grievances in accordance with the applicable agreement from time to time. SIPTU and FMI have also agreed to supervise the terms of production deals made by their respective members.
FMI still awaits SIPTU's detailed response to its proposals for a new agreement regarding the need for a comprehensive set of Union documents, and while FMI awaits SIPTU's response it is hoped discussions with some of the other film unions can be initiated.
In other FMI labour relations news a representative committee of film professionals based in the west of Ireland has recently been established "to initiate some cohesive union activity and promotion in the regions". The organisation's main proposal is the establishment of a new production zone, based within a forty mile radius of Eyre Square in Galway (at present the officially recognised production zones are the areas within a forty mile radius of Ardmore studios and the GPO in Dublin). This proposal may be of interest to producers, by increasing the pool of talent available at locations in the west of Ireland and ensuring that these locations can be utilised on a cost effective basis. This proposal, if agreed by all parties, will involve appropriate modifications to form of agreement operating between SIPTU and FMI in recent years.
Further details from www.iftn.ie/fmi
Michael McMahon 29/10/98
