News

The International Federation of Actors, meeting in Marrakech, Morocco, 24-27 October, debated an important list of issues and adopted some 30 resolutions, ranging from how to publicize the organisation’s health and safety guidelines and strengthening its union development activities to dealing with core labour rights for a-typical workers and adapting intellectual property rights in the digital age. One resolution called for closer cooperation with UNI-MEI in activities in countries of the former Soviet Union where the cultural workers’ unions virtually all cover both FIA’s and UNI-MEI’s jurisdiction. UNI-MEI President Heinrich Bleicher-Nagelsmann and Director Jim Wilson attended for UNI-MEI. The latter was asked to speak on trade union developing, emphasizing the help that professional identity can give to organising efforts. Thomas Bolme of Sweden was elected president emeritus of FIA, after serving as president for 16 years. The new president, Agnete Haaland, who is president of the Norwegian actors’ union, was chosen by unanimity. This was the first time FIA had held a congress in Africa.