Los Angeles and New York (January 25, 2009)—The National Boards of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) have worked with the AFL-CIO to establish a framework in which the two unions will negotiate the AFTRA Television and Radio Recorded Commercials Contracts and the SAG Television Commercials Contract under the rules of an expanded Phase One Agreement.
A set of guidelines was established, including specific prohibitions on raiding and disparagement, in an effort to foster a healthy and productive joint bargaining relationship for these contracts. We look forward to working together to protect and advance the interests, careers, and lives of all SAG and AFTRA members who work under the commercials contracts.
We gratefully acknowledge the contribution to our new beginning made by AFL-CIO consultant Peter S. DiCicco representing President John Sweeney, AFL-CIO attorney Sarah Fox, and AFL-CIO Department of Professional Employees President Paul Almeida.
AFTRA President Roberta Reardon and SAG National President Alan Rosenberg said in a joint statement, “We each greatly appreciated the opportunity to work together and with AFTRA National Executive Director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth and SAG National Executive Director Doug Allen to fashion this binding agreement to negotiate jointly on behalf of our combined memberships who work in TV, radio, and Internet/new media commercials. This important agreement between our two unions will better the lives of all performers.”
Commercials Contracts Update
On January 10, the Joint National Commercials W & W Plenary Committee approved a package of proposals for changes to the commercials contracts. The Committee has recommended the package for approval by the Joint National Board scheduled to meet by videoconference plenary in Los Angeles and New York on February 7. Commercials contracts negotiations are scheduled to begin in New York on February 23.
About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, journalists, dancers, singers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audiobooks, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet, and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives, and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society. Visit AFTRA online at www.aftra.com .
ABOUT SAG
Screen Actors Guild is the nation’s largest labor union representing working actors. Established in 1933, SAG has a rich history in the American labor movement, from standing up to studios to break long-term engagement contracts in the 1940s to fighting for artists’ rights amid the digital revolution sweeping the entertainment industry in the 21st century. With 20 branches nationwide, SAG represents over 122,000 actors who work in film and digital television, industrials, commercials, video games, music videos and all other new media formats. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation and benefits and to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights. SAG is a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO. Headquartered in Los Angeles, you can visit SAG online at www.sag.org.
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Contact:
Chris de Haan, AFTRA, 323-337-7309
Pamela Greenwalt, SAG, 323-440-2892
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