Dear Member,
SAG-AFTRA is writing you to update you regarding some of the terms of the 2022 Commercials Contract, and to provide you with an opportunity to notify the union if you believe you are impacted by these terms.
One of the important changes in the 2022 Commercials Contract was the implementation of Class A cycle caps under the new compensation structure. These provisions mean that the maximum amount a performer working at scale terms can earn from Class A use within a cycle is $20,000 for an on-camera principal performer and $15,000 for off-camera performers.
In order to mitigate the negative impact of this change on performers, SAG-AFTRA and the JPC established the Digital Transition Impact Mitigation Fund. While this fund will not be able to make up all foregone compensation due to the Class A caps, it is the intention of SAG-AFTRA and the jointly-trusteed fund to disburse as much as possible to performers who have been impacted by these Class A cycle caps.
SAG-AFTRA is currently in the process of analyzing payroll records to determine which commercials and which performers have been negatively impacted by the Class A cycle caps. In order to ensure that we are evaluating any and all commercials that have been negatively impacted by the caps, we are asking performers who believe they have been impacted by these caps to provide SAG-AFTRA with documentation.
If you have reason to believe you have been paid the maximum compensation for a cycle of Class A use under the new compensation structure of the 2022 Commercials Contract, SAG-AFTRA requests that you complete this form and attach substantiating payroll records. In order to qualify for compensation from the Digital Transition Impact Mitigation Fund, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You worked in a principal or group role (either on-camera or off) in a commercial that was produced under the 2022 SAG-AFTRA Television Commercials Contract;
- Use fees were paid to you under the terms of the New Compensation Structure, which were implemented on June 1, 2022;
- At least one 13-week cycle of Class A use was paid at maximum Class A cycle payment amount, and had a cycle end-date no later than May 31, 2023. This means that for one cycle, you were paid for 306 Class A uses, and received the following total amounts:
- On Camera Principal: $20,000.00
- Off Camera Principal: $15,000.00
- On Camera Group 3-5 (Group Dancer 3+): $14,641.81
- On Camera Group 6-8: $12,963.86
- On Camera Group 9+: $10,718.94
- Off Camera Group 3-5: 8,458.99
- Off Camera Group 6-8: $7,343.35
- Off Camera Group 9+: $5,985.74
If you meet all of the above criteria, please complete this form no later than July 31, 2023 and be sure to include your payroll record(s). If you have any questions about the Class A cycle caps, the Digital Transition Impact Mitigation Fund, or the SAG-AFTRA Television Commercials Contract, please contact the SAG-AFTRA Commercials & Corporate/Educational Department at Comm.CoEdInfo@sagaftra.org.