Mr. Gerry O'Brien:

Without a union, actors are very vulnerable. There is another element to the employment of actors, and that is their rights under the copyright law and the European copyright directive, which means that the revenue generated by the constant use of their performance should be shared. A proportionate share of that should go back into the actor's pocket. Neither the broadcasters nor even the private sector have any desire to do that. The main contracts being used are buy-out contracts, which we have addressed before. This means that there is a very limited economic value to a contract for a performer, so yes, the union is needed. A collectively bargained agreement is needed. We have begun to try to undo 25 years of buy-outs, but it is going to be a challenge.