Actors belonging to the U.S. or Canadian Actors' Equity associations can now perform on either side of the border and garner pension benefits.
The financial plus results from what the two unions are calling a "landmark" and "milestone" pension-reciprocity agreement signed last month. The pact pledges the two unions' cooperation in assuring retirement funds under each other's most lucrative contract: U.S. Equity's production pact and the Canadian Theatre Agreement.
"The pension is one of the most important benefits that we negotiate," said U.S. Equity's Executive Director Alan Eisenberg. "We are pleased that as a result of cooperation from our Canadian sister union, actors can continue to earn pension credits even when working under Canadian Equity's jurisdiction."
CAEA Executive Director Susan Wallace stressed, "Equity members should be able to cross borders without losing their basic entitlements. The new accord guarantees that members on both sides of the border receive no less than the minimum benefits laid out in our respective agreements.
"The pension reciprocity agreement is not only momentous for Canadian artists, it is a first among nations," Wallace added. "We are proud to have opened a channel between our jurisdictions without sacrificing our basic tenets."
U.S. Equity members working under a Canadian Equity contract will see the producer contribute to the pension fund operated by both Equity and the League of American Theatres and Producers. The actors will earn pension credits as if working under a U.S. Equity agreement.
The U.S. Equity website further tells members, "If you are working under a Canadian Equity contract in the United States (such as the current tour of 'Mamma Mia') the producer will also contribute to the Equity-League 401(k) Fund on your behalf and you will be eligible to defer salary to the 401(k) Fund."
U.S. actors working under Canadian Equity pacts must complete a designation form, thus informing CAEA to forward your contributions to the Equity-League pension fund, or 401K fund for productions in the United States.
The Canadian pension plan is called the Canadian Actors' Equity Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). No U.S. actor's contributions will go into that plan once the actor has filed the designation form. U.S. Equity also suggests that its members add a rider to the Canadian Equity contract "clarifying that you need not open or contribute to an RRSP account. The rider should state that in lieu of contributions required by the Canadian Theatre Agreement, the producer will contribute to the Equity-League Pension Fund (and the 401(k) Fund for productions in the U.S.). The theatre will then contribute an amount equal to 3% (9% for productions in the U.S.) of contractual salary and the producer will not deduct pension or RRSP contributions from salary. Equity has made similar reciprocal arrangements for Canadian Actors working under Equity contracts."
First negotiated in 1919, the AEA's production agreement covers Broadway, national and international tours, as well as touring productions at large performing arts centers such as the Kennedy Center. Both commercial and not-for-profit producers, for either limited or open-ended runs, can use this agreement. It covers both musical and dramatic productions and is the only AEA agreement with provisions allowing non-resident alien performers to work in the U. S.
The Canadian Theatre Agreement (CTA) is negotiated between CAEA and the Professional Association of Canadian Theatres (PACT). Many of the professional theatre companies are signatories to this agreement by virtue of their PACT membership. The contract includes clauses for Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA), musical theatre, developmental activity workshops, and commercial theatre.
For further information U.S. Equity members can contact the Equity-League Fund office, (212) 869-9380 or (800) 344-5220, or visit the website at www.equityleague.org.