LOS ANGELES (July 20, 2019) — In the wake of SAG-AFTRA’s favorable ruling before an administrative law judge, SAG-AFTRA and Bartle Bogle Hegarty U.S. Inc. (BBH) today announced that, subject to final approval by the National Labor Relations Board, BBH will sign the newly negotiated Commercials Contracts, ending a 10-month-long strike and media campaign by SAG-AFTRA. BBH will produce all its commercials under these contracts, providing union wages and pension and health contributions to performers. As such, SAG-AFTRA members will be able to accept work on its productions.
In November of 2017, BBH served SAG-AFTRA with notice of its intent to withdraw as a signatory to the contracts. In response, SAG-AFTRA filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB and called a strike against the agency. In May 2019, an administrative law judge ruled against BBH and instructed BBH to both recognize SAG-AFTRA as the representative of commercial performers and to negotiate with the union.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris said, “We’re pleased that BBH has returned to their longtime status as a SAG-AFTRA signatory. Since the inception of our relationship nearly 20 years ago, we have partnered effectively to provide the best talent in the world to BBH clients while ensuring fair compensation and safe working conditions for SAG-AFTRA members. It has been and will continue to be an extraordinarily productive relationship delivering value to the entire industry. Now, with our new 2019 Commercials Contracts we are thrilled that BBH can take full advantage of the transformative compensation models in this groundbreaking agreement to better compete in the constantly evolving advertising industry.”
“Our goal from the start was to produce high-level, cutting-edge creative work for our clients on a level playing field in a fast-evolving industry. We lost the battle, will respect the ruling and move on. We thank our clients for their unrelenting support throughout this process,” said Brett Edgar, managing director of BBH NY.
“We are pleased to welcome BBH back to the SAG-AFTRA family,” said David White, national executive director of SAG-AFTRA. “The tremendous solidarity of our entire membership is to thank for helping bring BBH back to the table. Our members look forward to once again collaborating with BBH and providing their professional talent to create innovative, memorable and award-winning commercials.”
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at sagaftra.org.
About BARTLE BOGLE HEGARTY (BBH)
BBH (Bartle, Bogle, Hegarty) is a global advertising and marketing services agency and built on the iconic symbol of the black sheep and its purpose of “the power of difference, to make a difference.” Founded in 1982 in London, BBH has become one of the most awarded creative agencies in the business and been responsible for the growth of many iconic global brands. Today, BBH offers services in advertising, design, web, mobile and social communications, product and service design, brand development and business consulting. BBH has more than 1,000 employees globally with offices in New York, L.A., London, Mumbai, Stockholm, Singapore and Shanghai and is part of the Publicis Groupe network, one of the world’s largest advertising and marketing services organizations. For more information, please visit www.bartleboglehegarty.com.
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.