Here is a summary of what we have been up to -
Greetings Stunt Community,
It has been a while since we all me in the fall when the new Stunt Committee was struck.
Lots has happened in the past 6 months with the Stunt Committee and a lot will be happening going forward.
Here is a summary of what we have been up to :
- We now meet once a month, keep minutes and work closer to the UBCP staff to get things done.
- So far, we have seen nothing but total support for our ideas and initiatives from the UBCP staff, management and Executive Board so we are optimistic moving forward.
January -
Rob & Lori along with staffer Jodi Kiceluk went to Toronto for the National Stunt Committee Meeting.
We did a report on our "Stunt Injury Survey" and Concussion Seminar and the information was VERY well received with the other branch committee members.
We are thrilled to report that both Toronto and Montreal are doing Concussion Seminars for their stunt performers as a result of our work her in BC. BRAVO!
A "Code of Conduct for Stunt Coordinators" was nationally adopted at this meeting and it is something that all coordinators nation wide are expected to adhere to.
(a separate email will be coming shortly about this).
The National meeting was very positive and the sharing of information, issues, problems with our agreements, etc. could prove to be helpful to our community and UBCP in the next round of negotiations. Our relationships with the other branches definitely improved with this visit.
Feb - March -
UBCP rolled out the "Incident/Accident Reporting" online system went online at UBCP thanks to Lori Stewart's work in this area.
This initiative is important for our community to track the kind and number of injuries/accidents that happen on set.
We want to change this "fear of reporting" culture that does nothing to help us when it comes to our own well being and bargaining.
We have learned that the union doesn't know when people get injured (because production often doesn't provide the injury reports to our staff) so the only way the union learns about it is if we report it.
We have also learned that many people underestimate their injuries and that it is in your own best interest to follow the proper reporting steps when you get hurt (go to First Aid/FACS, visit your doctor, inform Worksafe BC, let MBT/AFBS know).
We have many friends in our community that are struggling with concussion and other long term, compounded injuries that were not reported and now they have no way to prove their injuries were work related - and now they can't work....
WE URGE ALL STUNT PERFORMERS TO REPORT ALL INJURIES, ACCIDENTS AND NEAR MISSES ON OUR INCIDENT/ACCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM ON THE HOME PAGE OF UBCP so we get the facts and our staff can make sure you know what to do to help yourself and your future.
April- May
Discussions/ideas/action about :
- unnecessary 'over-rehearsing' of stunt performers with resultant fatigue and injury to individuals.
- approaching DGC and talking about how they can be empowered to help prevent injuries to stunt performers
- courses/seminars for riggers and stunt performers
- education of 'performer rights' and the right to refuse unsafe work
- organizing Occupational First Aid sessions for all stunt performers and coordinators through Actsafe
- pitch to UBCP for a 'staff' position that would deal with all Stunt Performer issues, initiatives, problems as well as general health and safety that affect all performers.
- Stunt Committee contacts info can now be found on the UBCP website under Committees
June
Discussions/ideas/action about :
- canvassing stunt community members to help create a mission statement and better frame what exactly the Stunt Committee does.
- UBCP web page and Stuntlist to be updated soon with info about Stunt Committee.
- discussions about Foreign Work Permits (ongoing)
- Worksafe BC regulations and stunt performer and coordinator responsibilities
- education courses for community and utilizing union resources to help facilitate them.
- we need stunt community members running in next UBCP election this fall as well as serving on the UBCP Negotiating team (it could be you !?!?!)
A lot of ground work is being done so far and we have some good ideas to move us forward. We would like to hear from you, the stunt community, on how we can make things better. Please contact any of the Stunt Committee members with your comments, ideas, suggestions...we'd love to hear from you !
Best regards,
BC Stunt Committee
Rob Hayter
Ryan Ennis
Lauren Gibson
Paul Wu
Mike Carpenter
Colin Decker
& assisted by Lori Stewart