Montreal, May 11, 2026 — The association representing technicians in the audiovisual sector (all craftspeople working behind the camera) finds itself compelled to reject a
request for exemptions submitted by a producer. In a letter addressed to the union president, a major Quebec production house, under pressure from a broadcaster, requested exemptions for several elements stemming directly from a collective agreement signed with the Association québécoise de la production médiatique (AQPM), of which it is a member.

Among the requests, the refusal to contribute to the group insurance and pension plans represents a significant and unacceptable decline in working conditions for technicians, who are already freelance workers in precarious situations. It is important to note that these are freelance jobs in a sector where work is increasingly rare and wages have not increased for several years. The letter concludes by confirming that should the request be refused, the production will not move forward, meaning members will not have work.

“In a context where audiovisual production as a whole is facing a major crisis, these requests are inadmissible and undermine our members. We stand in solidarity with broadcasters, producers, and all industry stakeholders, but our technicians should not have to bear the cost of a model that needs to be reviewed,” states Bernard Larivière, President of AQTIS 514 IATSE

ABOUT AQTIS 514 IATSE: The Alliance québécoise des techniciens et des techniciennes de l’image et du son (AQTIS), IATSE Local 514, represents 8,000 freelance professionals in more than 200 trades related to the design, planning, setup, execution and postproduction of audiovisual productions. It supports the professional development of technicians, helps its members use their talent and passion to best advantage at home and abroad, and promotes the growth of Québec’s audiovisual industry.