A call for global agreements with the major media companies that increasingly dominate the industry was made by UNI (Union Network International)General Secretary Philip Jennings.He was speaking in Budapest at the 18th Congress of the International Federation of Actors (FIA), which works in close alliance with UNI's media and entertainment sector (UNI MEI) and the musicians' federation FIM.
"We need to focus our organising endeavours on the media giants," Philip told delegates."These (global) agreements are no panacea and they do not substitute for local collective bargaining - but they are a way of globalising and monitoring respect for core labour standards."The grip on the industry by the media giants is tightening - with Sony recently buying MGM studios with its valuable vaults of classic movies.
Philip called for media issues to be kept away from the World Trade Organisation."The WTO is an imperfect organisation. The decision making is secretive; there is no assessment of the consequences of trade deals on jobs and economic security. "We have to keep their hands off audiovisual issues."