We made it! Well, almost. Our 118-day strike has resulted in a new tentative agreement with the AMPTP. The proverbial ball is now in your court. You have the chance to vote on this new contract, allowing us to lock in more than $1 billion in new wages and benefit plan funding along with the gains that were most important to you, including a new success-based bonus for those who work in streaming and important protections around the use of AI, guardrails never before included in our contracts.
Let me say this again: guardrails that were never included in contracts before! AI is here. It’s been here on full display since Fast and the Furious 7 in 2015, which marked the debut of Paul Walker’s digital replica.
The contract ISN’T perfect, but it’s pretty darn good! And truly, that’s what a negotiation is, a little take here a little give there.
But, it’s essential that we all take the time to get educated about what this agreement has achieved for working performers.
The union has put together a summary of the agreement, and we encourage you to read it here. If you were not able to attend an informational session about the tentative agreement, videos of sessions are available at sagaftra.org/contracts2023, where there are also FAQs, AI resources and voting information.
If you still have unanswered questions, you may email tvtheatrical2023@sagaftra.org or call (323) 549-6832.
Your Negotiating Committee worked countless hours for this contract and the National Board approved it by an 86% vote with a recommendation to vote yes.
This was a hard-fought battle, and we urge you to vote yes on this agreement. After you have had a chance to study the information, please visit vote.ivsballot.com/tvtheatrical2023 and VOTE YES by 5 p.m. PT on Dec. 5, 2023.
This is a big deal! LITERALLY! I’m proud of the 118 days we put in, so let’s finish the job!
Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season, and I hope to see you at the membership meeting on Thursday.
Nikki Dixon,
Dallas-Fort Worth Local President