A Letter from Your New Orleans President

Dear Member,

Nothing is more important than your well-being and that of your loved ones, so we must do all we can to ensure that our futures are as secure as possible. That’s why I’m writing, to tell you why I am voting YES on the 2020 TV/Theatrical Contracts.

Gains for All Members

We achieved a 26% increase in fixed streaming residuals. Our negotiating team focused on positioning us where the growth and money are in the future. Under the new agreement, any performer who has earnings that hit the high-budget subscription video on demand ceilings will actually see a 35% increase over the 2017 contract for the first three years’ residuals. And, for those shows that start later in the contract term, it’s a 45% improvement over 2017 terms.

Gains for Stunts

Stunt performers hired on episodic productions under Schedule H-II will no longer lose their weekly overtime if they receive a stunt adjustment that pushes their compensation over the threshold into Schedule H-III. Stunt performers will also benefit from the significant improvements in high-budget subscription-based streaming residuals, the record-setting gains in pension, health and retirement contributions, and the overall wage increases.

More for Pension Health and Retirement

There is a projected funding increase of $97 million to the benefits plans for the next three years, including a $54 million increase for the health plan. I vote yes to have these plans there for me and you!

Significant Sexual Harassment Protections

Revisions were made to address unsafe auditions and sets, and sexual harassment. This proposed agreement establishes concrete rules to prevent abuse from happening in the first place. The contracts will now explicitly include language that calls out and prohibits sexual harassment.

Got Questions?

PLEASE JOIN the member informational meeting on Tuesday, July 14, 4–7 p.m. CT to hear firsthand about these contracts. Click here to register. Or get educated by reading about the proposed contracts by clicking here.

Be on the lookout for your postcard in the mail with a PIN number and instructions on how to vote online or by mail. If you don’t have your PIN, you may retrieve it at the voting website. Whether submitted online or by mail, ballots must be received by 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.

Closing Thoughts

No contract is ever perfect. In the middle of a global pandemic, at a time of economic upheaval and dramatic declines in industry revenue, we were able to secure huge gains. As a performance arts teacher in New Orleans before Katrina, our teachers’ union was caught when they waited to renegotiate our contracts. The storm hit, and over 7,000 employees were fired in 30 days because they had NO contract. Once it expired, all employees were forced to “audition” to be one of the only 500 people rehired, with a 10-year wait to qualify for pension and a 50% pay cut.  
 
I ask you to join me in voting yes to this contract and yes to our future.

In unity,

Diana Boylston
New Orleans Local SAG-AFTRA President