Unions representing theatrical stage employees, movie technicians and other workers in the sector are raising the alarm regarding a feature film scheduled to begin shooting in the Bonavista area on Monday.

The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 709 and the International Cinematographers Guild claim the two production companies associated with the film have refused to sign an agreement with local film unions and guilds, and have been flying in non-union crew from Ontario instead.

The IATSE says the work is usually performed by Newfoundland crews working under collective agreements between the producer and unions.

In a new release on Thursday, IATSE president Mattew Loeb declared Woods Entertaiment Inc and Sara Fost Pictures to be “unfair employers.”

Such a designation requires union members to stop working for the employer.

The unions say flying in crews from outside the province “does nothing to develop the province’s burgeoning industry.”

They say Local Crewsa feature film with a budget in excess of $9 million dollars has the resources to support the growth and stability of the local industry.