A Letter from the Ohio-Pittsburgh Local President

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

This may be the first time some of you have heard directly from me, but I wanted to reach out about the 2020 TV/Theatrical Contracts because it is a matter of great importance to so many members here in the Ohio-Pittsburgh Local.
 
As many of you know, the SAG-AFTRA National Board is recommending that members vote YES on the 2020 TV/Theatrical Contracts. Please do what you feel is right and best, but I would be remiss if I didn’t say that anyone who has negotiated a contract knows how difficult it can be to make gains, especially ones like we're seeing with this contract.
 
For your consideration, please note some of the highlights of the negotiations:

• Wage increases of 2.5% in the first year, 3% in the second year and 3% in the third year, with options to divert 0.5% to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan or the SAG Pension Plan/AFTRA Retirement Fund in years two and three.
   
• Improved residuals for high-budget programming made for subscription streaming. 
   
• Substantial gains to funding for the benefit plans, including a 1% increase to the contribution rate to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan that is projected to generate $54 million. Increases to scale are projected to generate another $43 million to the benefit plans. If exercised, optional wage diversions in years two and three would add even more funding.
   
• Historic improvements to protections for principal and background performers working nude or performing in simulated sex scenes, including improvements to notice and consent requirements. Plus, new protections at auditions and interviews as well as a provision that explicitly addresses harassment prevention.  

This is a three-year deal if approved, beginning July 1 and running until June 30, 2023.

There is much more information available, along with more of the gains negotiated, in the 2020 TV/Theatrical Referendum and at sagaftra.org/contracts2020. 

If you have any questions or concerns, you can email TVTH2020@sagaftra.org or call (866) 287-1853. The deadline to vote by mail or online is fast approaching.  You have until 5 p.m. PDT on July 22.

In solidarity, 

Heather Abraham
SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh Local President