National Board Report

Aloha,

Two years ago, I was elected to serve as an alternate on the Executive Committee of the National Board. Recently, I was elected to serve as a full member of the EC. I am honored and grateful by the support of the National Board. I promise to represent our local and members to the best of my ability. 

Here are a few things your National Board has been working on. 

Telemundo

SAG-AFTRA has settled three unfair labor practice charges with Spanish-language television network Telemundo that were filed on behalf of the network’s telenovela performers. The settlement, which includes a key win that corrects the misclassification of Telemundo performers as independent contractors, was reached after a year of litigation and days before a trial at the National Labor Relations Board. 

“This is a major victory for Spanish-language performers,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “This is an important step toward ending the unfairness that separates Telemundo performers from their English-language counterparts in the television industry. We will not rest until the Telemundo performers work under terms that are fair and just.”

Video Game Strike

Members of SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly to approve the successor to the Interactive Media Video Game Agreement by a vote of 90 percent to 10 percent.

The terms of the tentative agreement, which was reached on Sept. 22, include a new bonus structure that provides additional payments to performers based on the number of sessions worked. The bonus payments, which are due no later than the release date of the game, begin with an additional $75 payment on the first session and total $2,100 after 10 sessions worked.  

The deal also contains new transparency provisions that will enhance the bargaining power of our members’ representatives by requiring the companies to disclose the codename of project, its genre, whether the game is based on previously published intellectual property and whether the performer is reprising a prior role. Members are also protected by the disclosure of whether they will be required to use unusual terminology, profanity or racial slurs, whether there will be content of a sexual or violent nature and whether stunts will be required.

In addition, the deal includes an employer commitment to continue working with SAG-AFTRA on the issue of vocal stress during the term of the agreement.

The agreement does not include several proposals sought by management, including a provision that would have fined performers for being late or distracted at session, another that would have required agents to submit performers for low-paying “atmospheric voice” sessions or face fines and a possible revocation of their union franchise, and another that would have allowed employers to use their permanent staff to do covered work outside of the collective bargaining agreement.

Informational voting cards were mailed to approximately 7,200 affected members of SAG-AFTRA, of which 10 percent voted. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington.

The agreement became effective Nov. 8 and expires Nov. 7, 2020.

The National Board unanimously approved the tentative agreement on Oct. 9, ending a strike against 11 video game companies that began on Oct. 21, 2016. 

National Conservatory Committee

I was recently reappointed to the National Conservatory Committee to serve as the co-chair with L.A. member Ron Morgan. Other national committees I will continue to serve on include Organizing, Professional Representatives (agency), SAGindie and Fi-Core. 

Here’s wishing you a Mele Kalikimaka and a Hau’oli Makahiki hou!

In solidarity,

Scott Rogers
National Board Member