SAG-AFTRA Reaches New Contract Agreement with Studios

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has reached a tentative three-year contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) that includes, among other agreements, better pay for actors from productions for SVOD services.

The total package is valued at $256 million over three years, with the new contract expiring on June 30, 2020. The tentative agreement sees wage increases of 2.5 percent in the first year, 3 percent in the second year and 3 percent in the third year. The negotiated contract also includes improved residuals for programming made for SVOD platforms: the first residual is now due in 90 days rather than one year, there is an increase in the residual rate and first-ever residuals compensation for foreign use.

The new deal improves the overtime provisions for background actors working in the West Coast zones so that they match New York standards while protecting against the attempted removal of night premiums in the New York zone. The committee also improved the pay rate for photo doubles and secured an additional 5 percent increase in the first year of the contract for stunt coordinators working under flat deal contracts in TV.

The new three-year agreement is subject to approval by the SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors and ratification by the union’s membership.

SAG-AFTRA President and Negotiating Committee Chair Gabrielle Carteris said, “This is a forward-looking package with meaningful gains across our entire membership. Working with our terrific negotiating committee and staff, we achieved significant improvements in streaming new media compensation. We also established comprehensive travel guidelines to eliminate ambiguity and provide a seasonal fee schedule for location series work.

“Over the last 18 months, I’ve met and talked extensively with members throughout the country. Those conversations, along with our comprehensive Wages and Working Conditions meetings, guided our bargaining strategy and helped build strength and unity. I am grateful to our members for their input and steadfast support which helped us achieve this excellent result.

“I also want to thank my fellow negotiating committee members and staff who worked incredibly hard to secure this deal. They’ve taken time away from their jobs and families to serve the members in these negotiations. I am most thankful to our Chief Negotiator David White for his expertise and dedication on behalf of the members.”

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator David White commented, “This negotiation was a heavy lift. We addressed several critical concerns related to travel pay and option periods as well as improving the residuals structure for streaming new media. We also achieved historic gains for our background community and additional enhancements affecting the general membership.

“I thank President Carteris and the negotiating committee for their hard work in achieving this deal. I also want to recognize my invaluable partnership with Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez, and the many contributions of Senior Adviser John McGuire, Associate National Executive Director Mathis Dunn, National Directors Jennifer Gaudry, Beth Millman and Olga Rodriguez-Aguirre, and the rest of our talented professional staff.”