The Stage Management Committee has prepared this summary for the convenience of members, and to serve as a resource. It does not deal with all aspects of stage management overtime in the CTA, and is not intended as a substitute for a solid understanding of that document.

For the past two terms of the Canadian Theatre Agreement, stage managers have been fortunate to be working with much-improved overtime provisions. It took a lot of discussions at the 2000 negotiations to get everyone to a common understanding of the rules, and the following document was put together to cement that understanding. We are pleased to report that the changes have substantially reduced the number of arguments between engagers and stage managers having a different perception of what was payable in various situations.

The following is a summary of the most common overtime provisions in the CTA. Please note the diagrams are not to scale.

The stage management working day commences with the first stage management activity of the day and ends with the final stage management activity of the day.

The allowable hours of the working day consist of allowable rehearsal or performance hours (hours available to the actors), plus allowable preparation hours, plus allowable production meeting time. While unused rehearsal time each day may be used for tech sessions, or additional prep and meetings, neither prep time nor production meeting time may be used to extend the time available for other activities.

Overtime is payment for excess work hours. When the stage manger must exceed allowable rehearsal, performance, preparation or production meeting time, then overtime is payable. Overtime is not transferable to other time periods. Excess span is a special case of overtime (see below).

The span of a stage management working day should not exceed 13 hours. However, if it must go longer, that portion of the working day (including breaks) in excess of 13 hours shall be paid at the rate of $21.00 per half hour, or part thereof (current 2006 - 2009 rate). This rate supersedes any overtime rate otherwise applicable for those hours. However meal infringements, when applicable, are still separately payable.

Payment for infringements occur when non-work hours (breaks, rest) are less than the required length.

A meal break begins when work ends, and infringement of that break is paid when the following work session cuts the meal break short. Meal break infringement is paid in addition to any other payment due for the period of infringement.

Overnight rest infringement is paid similarly. Overnight rest begins with the end of the final stage management activity on each day and ends with the start of the first stage management activity of the next day. Infringement is paid for hours where work on the following day cuts short the required overnight rest. This might seem obvious, but there have been misunderstandings where rest infringement was calculated at the beginning and paid for hours worked on the previous day. Overnight rest infringement is paid in addition to any other payment due for the period of infringement.

If a meal break or overnight rest is preceded by work that is overtime, overtime for that activity is paid until work ends, at which point the meal break or overnight rest begins. As above, the rest or break begins with the end of work and any infringement is payable at the end of the rest or break. If the following work activity is also overtime, then both are payable.

Free Day infringement is paid along the same lines, but is clocked a little differently. The Free Day extends from midnight preceding the day off, and finishes at 9:00 am on the morning following the day off, for a total of 33 hours. If a performance extends past midnight, then the Free Day begins with the final curtain, and extends 33 hours from that time. Any work session that overlaps the Free Day at either end, or takes place during that period, is payable at the Free Day rate, with a minimum call of 4 hours. In practice, this means that for a work call beginning at 8:00 am on the morning following (e.g. cueing), four hours of free day rate is due for that first hour. Any meal or overnight infringements that occur on the Free Day are paid in addition to the Free Day rate.

It is worth noting that on the night before the Free Day, work calls (other than actual performance) that extend past midnight are also Free Day infringements, and payable as such. If you have regular responsibilities, including post-rehearsal or post-show work that will necessarily extend past midnight, this can represent a substantial cost to the theatre. Engagers are understandably anxious to avoid that kind of expense. If a discussion with the engager does not result in a solution that permits work to finish by midnight, then please contact a Business Rep for guidance. Remember, neither engagers nor members are permitted to waive any provisions of the CTA.

This understanding of how overtime and infringement payments apply is intended to clarify and simplify matters in the vast majority of instances. However, since our jobs encompass an endless variety of tasks, there will always be cases that need to be decided on an individual basis. Moreover, both touring and TYA throw their own clauses into the mix. In any situation that veers away from the straightforward, we encourage you to contact an Equity Business Rep. They can help answer any questions you may have.