Union guarantees no Hobbit industrial action - National

The union behind an actors' boycott of The Hobbit has given an unconditional guarantee that it will not take any more industrial action against the film production.NZ Actors' Equity - the New Zealand branch of the Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) - last week withdrew an international do-not-work recommendation on The Hobbit films.The union had issued the order over its wish for the negotiation of a collective contract for actors working on the films.Warner Bros executives are in the country looking at the possibility of relocating the production, citing the instability of the film industry in New Zealand following the do-not-work order.Prime Minister John Key is meeting with the executives in an attempt to keep the film in New Zealand and says at best there is a 50/50 chance of keeping The Hobbit films here.On National Radio this morning, the MEAA's assistant director Simon Whipp reiterated that there would be no further industrial action against the production."We've given producers unconditional assurances no action will be taken," he said.John Key and Warner BrosWeta boss Sir Richard Taylor says he is 110 per cent sure the films will be made here because the alternative is not worth thinking about.John Key and other ministers are meeting Warner Bros executives this afternoon to persuade them to keep the $670 million films in New Zealand."At best it's about 50/50," Mr Key said."I would love to tell you it is a done deal, but we are a long way away from that done deal ... We will put our best foot forward and see where it takes us."Warner Bros had yet to make a final decision, Mr Key said.The Government is expected to discuss the industrial relations environment, the tax rebates on offer (currently 15 per cent on domestic spending), and the possibility of changing labour laws to make it less likely for workers to take up an employment dispute in the middle of the project."But I also think we need to be careful. New Zealand brings a lot to the table and I don't think we should simply get out the cheque book for the sake of it," Mr Key said. See more in http://www.knowbay.com/