Labor & Employment Law

AFTRA, SAG Reach Agreement with TV, Motion Picture Producers

By James Parks

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors (SAG) reached a tentative agreement with motion picture and TV producers on new television and feature film contracts.

The workers’ top priority was an increase in pension and health care benefits. The tentative deal includes a 10 percent increase in the current employer contributions paid to the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds and Screen Actors Guild Pension & Health Plans. This represents the largest dollar value increase to the plans under these contracts, since the plans were founded, and is the largest percentage increase to the plans in more than two decades.

The new three-year agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) still must be approved by the Joint National Board of AFTRA and SAG and by a vote of the two unions? memberships.

AFTRA President Roberta Reardon said:

I am extremely pleased we met our goal of increasing contributions to our retirement and pension plans, and that we successfully completed this negotiation now to protect the needs of performers early in the process. Our joint negotiating committee worked together seamlessly and in solidarity, and I am very proud of their work.

SAG President Ken Howard said:

Strengthening the pension and health plans was our top priority in these negotiations. Making such a significant gain in that area was a vital achievement. Increased wages across the contract and the expansion of the major role premium into pay television will not only put more money in performers? pockets, but will provide yet another boost to our P&H [pension and health] funds.

 The new tentative agreement also includes:

• A 6 percent wage increase over the term of the agreement with 2 percent in each of the three years.
• An expansion of major role provisions to apply to new pay television series beginning in their second season.
• Expanded union coverage for made for new media productions.
• Improved contract language to increase equal employment opportunities for union performers.

 The unions also agreed to modifications in the travel provisions of the contracts.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on November 08, 2010 (boomark / email).