Although I define myself first as a playwright, I decided to become a member of the Union of Quebec Writers and Writers (UNEQ) in 2017 as I began a contract negotiation process for the publication of my first book, which was not a play. I had then sought advice from the UNEQ team, which I did not yet know, and I had obtained excellent suggestions for modifications to the publishing contract that they wanted me to sign.
UNEQ had made me see that several clauses of this contract were not to my advantage. The very uncertain prospects for the sale of my book did not seem to me to weigh heavily in such a negotiation. However, I was lucky to have in front of me a small publisher who turned out to be open to my requests — not everyone is so lucky.
Having had such a good experience with UNEQ, I requested the same type of contract reading service for each of my subsequent publications, even when it came to plays. Each time, I made the following two observations. First: “Lucky that the UNEQ is there! And then: “But what a pity that all my colleagues cannot benefit from the fruit of these negotiations that I am leading on my side, we would collectively waste a lot less time! »
Recent articles by Étienne Paré published in The duty greatly surprised me. In addition to giving an image of the work of the writers’ union that does not at all correspond to the quality of the services I have received there for six years, they suggest that Quebec writers would unite against it . Those who have been speaking out in the public square for a week are entitled to their conception of solidarity, to say the least narrow.
In my case, with a union dues rate of 2.5% for members, I will probably pay — let’s be optimistic — $50 to UNEQ in 2023, as a contribution for all these collective negotiations that my union will conduct with publishers much tougher than mine, for the good of my entire trade.
In my old life, I was a public service union member. My dues amounted to roughly the same percentage and none of my colleagues thought of questioning the existence of this tax through which our union was fighting daily for our working conditions — and stood up for us in the event of a problem.
Finally, as for the doubts raised on the trade union culture of the UNEQ, it is enough to have had recourse to its services only once to see that this culture is already firmly established there. We bet that the new Act respecting the professional status of artists adopted last June will significantly accelerate its learning curve. Evidenced by its decision, Wednesday evening, to convene a new general meeting due to a procedural error in the notice of meeting of the last. This is where it will be necessary to express oneself.