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.
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26 June
25 June
UK industry publishes Covid-19 safety guidelines for cinemas
24 June
22 June
19 June
Swedish COVID-19 guidelines for film & TV production are now available in English
15 June
12 June
COVID-19 Safety Guidelines for US film & TV production released
9 June
California governor says production can resume on June 12
Italian cinemas get set to reopen, shored up by new forms of support
The German government examines the impact of COVID-19 on the national audiovisual sector
8 June
Hollywood studios, guilds submit Covid-19 white paper to CA, NYC governors
4 June
2 June
29 May
Ireland preparing Covid-19 guidelines as film and TV production given date to resume
French cinemas given green light to reopen from June 22
28 May
Bectu backs further pressure on Treasury to extend support to creative freelancers
27 May
DGA, IATSE AND SAG-AFTRA JOINT STATEMENT ON BACK-TO-WORK PROCEDURE COLLABORATION
25 May
IATSE hires Epidemiologists to Consult on Reopening Procedures
22 May
UK industry fast-tracks training to help film and TV production resume
Mexican government backpedals on proposal to cut film fund
20 May
19 May
Overall wellbeing of crew must be considered as TV productions return to work, says Bectu
18 May
DGC Ontario launches member volonteer network to assist members who need assistance during COVID-19
Norwegian government adds €7.7m to film funding for coronavirus support
Iceland eases quarantine rules to allow in international productions
15 May
House Democrats unveil HEROES Act, addressing many IATSE legislative priorities
14 May
Bectu issues report on the film & TV recovery plan
Watch UNI Apro MEI President Masatoshi Nakamura's solidarity message
13 May
Bectu outlines production restart member survey responses
Report on the Impacts of COVID-19 On Performing Arts International Mobility
Japan’s Movie Theaters Begin Cautious Reopening
12 May
World Economic Forum issuse paper on how coronavirus has changed the film and TV industry
11 May
8 May
Norway’s Cinemas Can Reopen, but for Many It’s Too Soon
Italy Eyeing June to Start Recovery Efforts for Film, TV Production
7 May
US Entertainment Industry Unions Working to Safely Reopen Production
6 May
SAG-AFTRA and IATSE present A Virtual Town Hall with U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff
Open letter to the President of the Republic of French trade unions of the cultural sector
UK cinemas eyeing late June opening with four-pronged approach
5 May
Bectu takes leading role in detailed consultation on production ‘return to work’ standards
Ireland unveils plans to re-open cinemas in August
4 May
Movie Theaters in Norway to Reopen May 7 With 50 People Cap Per Screen
1 May
UNI ‘s May Day Message: We must seize this moment to demand a better world
30 April
29 April
Ticketmaster Furloughs Hundreds of Employees
BFI launches crisis fund of 2 millon GBP for UK indie films impacted by Covid-19
28 April
Read Wardrobe Costume Craft Janet Cadmus, IATSE talking about mask making and her COVID-19 story
27 April
UK creative sector calls for government help after alarming survey
25 April
Lay-offs at MGM and furloughs at United Artists distribution venture
24 April
UK Treasury clarifies furlough conditions after Bectu lobbying
23 April
22 April
Bectu concerned about animation and VFX pay cuts
Current production standstill in Canada puts the livelihood of 172,000 workers at risk
21 April
SINDCINE starts distribution of food packages to union members
SATSAID and Viacom agree on protocol for safe work
20 April
At least one quarter of self-employed not eligible for UK government support scheme
Disney Furloughs Reach 100,000
Netflix, Netherlands Film Fund launch Covid-19 production aid
17 April
IATSE issues priorities for subsequent COVID-19 relief legislation
Switzerland sets aside 280 million francs for culture
16 April
15 April
U.K. Coronavirus Film and TV Emergency Relief Fund Opens for Applications
14 April
SATSAID incorporates new health care channels into its social work TV stations, TV Salud
Disney World workers pressuring Florida to fix unemployment system
Netflix donates to Brazil, Mexico industry workers as part of $100m relief fund
Cinemark lays off 17,500 Hourly Workers
13 April
IATSE Local 8 Stagehands load in equipment for temporary hospital in Philadelphia
12 April
Bectu at the heart of the fight for the soul of the creative industries
9 April
British Film Institute outlines $5.7M COVID-19 support measures
8 April
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
EU funds must reach media and creative sector, say MEPs