Commercials Contracts to be Ratified by Electronic Voting

On April 21, the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the deal reached with the ad industry April 7 on new television and radio commercials contracts. The contracts will result in $238 million in wage increases and other payments for all categories of performers, improvements in cable use fees, increases in payments for work on the Internet and new media platforms, and an increase in the late payment fee. Formal negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and the advertising industry began on Feb. 14 and concluded April 6.

Summaries of the 2013 agreement provisions for the commercials contracts may be viewed at:

Summary of New Provisions 2013 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract

Summary of New Provisions 2013 SAG-AFTRA Radio Recorded Commercials Contract

In connection with the first national contract referendum for SAG-AFTRA, the board approved a motion offering members the opportunity to vote online, as well as by traditional paper ballots if they prefer, to ratify the commercials agreements.
 
“Online voting will make more efficient use of our financial resources, advance our efforts to be more environmentally conscious by reducing paper use and offer members the choice of a voting process that’s most convenient for them. We expect this program to encourage member engagement and to enhance voter turnout in the referendum,” said Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, chief administrative officer and general counsel.
 
Members who are eligible to vote will receive a postcard with ballot instructions explaining how to vote electronically or how to request a paper ballot. This postcard will be mailed to members on or about May 1, 2013.
 
The ratification votes received by the voting deadline of May 31, 2013, 5 p.m. PDT (electronically or by mail) will be tabulated that day.

This item was originally featured in the May 2013 local newsletter.