In Quebec’s fast-paced audiovisual industry — where information evolves quickly and technicians must access complex documents at any time — efficient management of collective agreements is a strategic imperative.
The Alliance québécoise des techniciens de l’image et du son (AQTIS), representing more than 5,500 professionals across 134 technical trades, embarked on a digital transformation to improve communication with its members and equip its union representatives with modern tools.
By adopting Norma, Lexum’s document publishing platform, AQTIS modernized the management and access to its collective agreements — unifying public dissemination, internal tools, digital ergonomics, and collaborative work.
💡 Note
AQTIS negotiates and administers about ten collective agreements covering all technical trades in Quebec’s audiovisual sector.
In addition to protecting the working conditions of over 5,500 professionals, it helps maintain high standards in technical skills, health and safety on set, ethical practices, and overall production quality.
Its role is essential to maintaining a strong, professional, and competitive local audiovisual industry.
Restoring Efficiency and Coherence in Document Management
Before Norma, AQTIS made its collective agreements available as static PDF files on its website. This approach limited several key functions:
1. The union’s ability to effectively support its members
- Technicians working in a highly technological environment expected modern tools.
- Increasing international competition required AQTIS to strengthen its online presence and professional image.
2. The efficiency of union representatives
- Documents were difficult to consult while traveling.
- No internal note-taking or annotation features were available to assist with case preparation or negotiation planning.
- Projects for implementing a document management system or case management tool were costly and fragmented.
3. Access to information
- No transversal search across all agreements.
- Members had to manually browse multiple, often lengthy PDFs.
For an organization representing thousands of highly specialized professionals, this fragmentation hindered its primary mission: to provide clear, rapid, and complete access to essential information in Quebec’s audiovisual sector.
Modernizing Access to Collective Agreements — to offer AQTIS’s 5,500 members a simple, fast, and comprehensive consultation experience, for all agreements negotiated on their behalf.
Une solution technologique centrée sur l’accessibilité et l’autonomie
Norma emerged as the platform best suited to AQTIS’s needs, thanks to its ability to unify internal management, public dissemination, and union collaboration.
Simplified Publishing
Original Word files are uploaded directly into Norma, which automatically generates:
- A dynamic HTML5 version,
- An authentic PDF version,
- A version seamlessly integrated into the AQTIS website.
Access Management
Depending on access rights:
- Public agreements are available to all members,
- Preliminary versions or projects are restricted to union representatives through a secure login.
Powerful Navigation and Search
Norma offers:
- Full-text search across all agreements or within a specific one,
- Fast and fluid navigation through complex documents,
- Mobile-friendly consultation.
Seamless Integration with the AQTIS Brand
The interface blends with the organization’s visual identity, creating a unified experience where members never feel they are leaving the AQTIS website.
Norma interface displaying an AQTIS 514 television production agreement. The interactive table of contents allows instant navigation between chapters, while the HTML5 format offers an optimized reading experience.
Modern Collaborative Tools for Union Representatives
AQTIS representatives now benefit from exclusive features essential to their day-to-day work:
Internal Annotations Within Agreements
- Add, manage and share private notes directly within agreement clauses.
- Link specific sections to active files or cases.
Collaborative Groups
- Teams organized by production type or negotiation cycle.
- Centralized preparation for upcoming negotiating rounds.
Full Mobile Accessibility
Representatives spend significant time on the road and on set — Norma ensures fast access from any device, anywhere.
Advanced Norma search applied to an AQTIS 514 collective agreement. Users can perform highly targeted searches with specialized syntax while dynamically navigating clauses.
Tangible Results for AQTIS and Its Members
Improved Transparency and Member Services
- Members now have quick, intuitive, and complete access to all agreements negotiated on their behalf.
- Information is easier to find and understand, increasing satisfaction and trust.
Strengthened Institutional Role of AQTIS
- A modern digital presence that reflects the dynamism of Quebec’s audiovisual industry.
- A platform that meets the expectations of a highly technological workforce.
Greater Efficiency for Representatives
- Centralized information and annotations in a single platform.
- Reduced search time, improved case preparation, better coordination.
Full Autonomy Over Content Management
- AQTIS manages its publications independently, without external intermediaries.
- Updates and revisions are applied instantly.
Tangible Results for AQTIS and Its Members
By adopting Norma, AQTIS has established itself as a leader in documentary modernization within the cultural sector. This transformation enables the organization to offer optimal access to union-related information and reinforces its role as a modern, proactive organization serving its members.
The results observed in 2024 speak for themselves:
- 21,270 visits, a 10% increase compared to the previous year.
- An average visit duration of 3 minutes and 40 seconds, reflecting strong user engagement.
- 6.1 actions per visit (page views, downloads, outbound links, internal searches), indicating active exploration of the agreements.
These metrics highlight Norma’s real impact: simpler access, more efficient navigation, and more relevant information for the entire AQTIS community.
Access the AQTIS collective agreements website:
