06/20/2020
OPEN LETTER TO PRODUCTION ASSISTANTS
June 18, 2020
First off this letter is written by the Admins of “BC PAX” and the Admins of “DGC Associate Members and Logbook Holders”, this letter is by no means an official document from the DGC.
We hope that everyone is doing ok. We understand that the last few months have been hard in various ways for us, some more than others. Over the past few weeks there has been a lot of talk about the BC film industry reopening and what to expect as we get back to work.
This is a time of uncertainty and there are a lot of questions about returning to work in this new covid environment. With uncertainty comes misinformation, and we’re working on getting good answers to share here. We recommend being respectful, civil, and kind towards everyone you encounter online. Hostility and the spread of misinformation can cause harm to the members of our community during an already stressful time. We are stronger together than apart.
This is a very uncertain and unprecedented time for our industry and not everyone will be comfortable with what is happening. We do have good leadership in the DGC and the other unions in the Film Industry here in BC. They have been working together over the last few months on the return to work plan and that picture is getting clearer everyday.
*** As per WorkSafeBC if you feel your work is unsafe for any reason, you have the right to refuse unsafe work. ***
For PAs, this means that the Directors Guild of Canada is actively monitoring and talking with all industry stakeholders to ensure that our safety as crew is maintained. Part of this was the recent letter sent out to all DGC BC Members, logbook holders, and productions. It has also been posted on this page about what rights and responsibilities a PA has onset during COVID-19.
The DGC is there for all Employees on sets under their Collective Agreement; Union PAs or Non-Union PAs alike. If anyone has concerns about the eventual reopening of the industry then please feel free to contact your PA and Trainee Executive Board Rep. Iain Carson-Huggins or by contacting the DGC directly.
Feel free to share below or message these things to any of the people below. We will attempt to address and answer them. With the questions that do not have answers, we will attempt to find or push those concerns forward.
SIGNED
Admins BCPAX
Admins DGC Associate Members and Logbook Holders