MEI
As hundreds of thousands of colleagues are facing lay-offs or have no job opportunities in the freelance labour markets of our industries, unions and guilds across the globe are working hard to support media entertainment workers during this crisis.
Unions and guilds affiliated to UNI Global Union are responding to the crisis by setting-up of solidarity funds and support measures for members, negotiating agreements with companies and employers' associations. They are lobbying governments and film funding agencies to put in place measures that bring rapid financial aid and better protection to the entire workforce of the industry.
Many media workers are an essential part of the global fight against the pandemic, keeping the media system running and making programmes to inform, educate and entertain citizens. Unions are giving advice and support to workers to ensure their health and safety on the job. Special agreements with employers have been negotiated to respond to the extraordinary situation media workers are facing.
This page is a resource providing links to news and information on some of the latest developments within the global media and enetratinment industry and its response to the COVID-19 crisis. The page is updated daily.
Notice: use translate option of your webbrowser to translate this page and linked articles into your language.
7 April
UNI MEI supports the #saveEUculture campaign in response to COVID-19
European Audiovisual Observatory is tracking COVID-19 support measures for the audiovisual sector
Bectu calls for ‘New Deal’ for freelancers and precarious workers in the creative industries
6 April
Studio Babelsberg applies for short-time work, but continues to reject a collective agreement
BBC reveals five-point plan to support indies
5 April
Women in Film & TV UK survey: 96% of members have lost all their income
Global box office facing estimated $10bn loss
Disney decision to furlough crew welcomed by Bectu
4 April
Disney plays a bad game with its freelance workers at Disneyland Paris
3 April
Netflix and the Italian Film Commissions launch an emergency COVID-19 fund
Brazilian Senate extends financial support scheme to self-employed and informal workers
SICA-APMA estimates that 4 000 jobs were already lost due to the COVID-19 crisis
German trade union ver.di fights for film workers of legendary Studio Babelsberg
Bectu invites production companies to collaborate to furlough freelance PAYE crew
2 April
Directors Guild Foundation Launches COVID-19 Emergency Relief Fund for Members
Public broadcasters in Germany can do better to support freelance media workers says ver.di
The UK’s PSB broadcasters call on Government to work with them to support freelancers
IATSE Slams Sinclair for Coronavirus Response to Sports Broadcast Freelancers
1 April
EU Commission roposes the new short-time work scheme SURE to help the most affected EU countries
Disney rehires then furloughs ‘The Little Mermaid’ UK crew
Film crew and cinema staff still face crisis after coronavirus shutdown
31 March
IASTE launches mutail aid effort
WGA West Donates $590,000 To The Actors Fund
US theatre owners group teams up on $2.4m relief fund
30 March
Hollywood's army of craftspeople take on COVID-19
UK Chancellor's coronavirus bailout ignores many self-employed
29 March
Short-time work based on new collective agreement in German TV production averts redundancies
Theater seamstresses, actors mobilize to make protective gear for doctors
28 March
27 March
ETUC reveals measures won by unions to protect jobs and wages across Europe
Bectu members can’t fall between the cracks of new self-employed support scheme
UK government scheme is step in right direction for freelancers and self-employed says Bectu
Cineworld backtracks on staff layoffs after government action
26 March
European Film Promotion Convenes ‘Crisis Committee’ to Cope With Coronavirus Disruption
Measures taken by European Film Agencies to mitigate the consequences of the COVID-19 outbreak
BBC pauses plans to cut jobs amid coronavirus outbreak
Germany Has Rolled Out a Staggering €50 Billion Aid Package for Artists and Cultural Businesses
25 March
At a glance: film industry coronavirus creative, social and financial support initiatives
24 March
verd.di Filmunion negotiates first collective agreement on short time work in film & TV production
Head of Bectu says Covid-19 TV and film relief fund welcome, but more must be done
British Film Institute (BFI), Film and TV Charity create Covid-19 emergency relief fund
FNSAC-CGT, France issues information reader for entertainment workers on COVID-19
UNIC urges national governments to support European cinemas
23 March
UK’s ScreenSkills outlines workforce support measures
22 March
SUTEP repudiates crisis management of CinemarkHoyts which threatens workers with dismissals
21 March
French cinema body gets right to collapse release windows
20 March
Netflix creates $100 million relief fund
France make changes to media windows to help distributors
Interview with General Secretary of SICA-APMA, Argentina on impact of COVID-19 on production workers
IATSE Canada sets up distinct website that puts COVID-19 resources and information in one place
19 March
SATSAID and the Argentine Association of Cable Television sign an agreement in response to Covid-19
MEAA releases guide to members about rights at work during COVID-19 crisis
18 March
17 March
IATSE commits $2.5 million to entertainment charities amid the COVID-19 crisis
Europe moving to support entertainment industry hit by COVID-19 Crisis
Dutch Film Fund announces measure to temper project-related damage in subsidized film productions