SAG-AFTRA and Telemundo Reach Tentative Agreement on New Contract

LOS ANGELES — SAG-AFTRA and Telemundo have reached a tentative three-year agreement for a new contract that expands residuals, provides for increases to scale and enhanced overtime and rest periods, and incorporates provisions that protect members from sexual harassment and abusive conduct in the workplace.

The agreement has been sent to the SAG-AFTRA Executive Committee for ratification.

“The fact that Telemundo is the largest employer of Spanish-language talent in the United States makes this agreement all the more significant and impactful,” said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. “It contains meaningful and tangible gains — both in terms of safety provisions and compensation — that can improve the quality of members’ lives. Thank you to Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland for his great work on behalf of members.”

“I am extremely proud of the results of this negotiation, which reflect the commitment and persistence of the members of the Negotiating Committee, led by National Chair Pablo Azar, who also chaired the first contract negotiations in 2017–2018,” said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. “My deepest thanks to Pablo and all the members of the committee. I also want to thank our outstanding team of staff and counsel, whose creativity and dedication helped us find this path forward. I also want to acknowledge Telemundo and their lead negotiator Bill Zuckerman for stepping up and meaningfully responding to the concerns and proposals raised by our members."

Contract highlights include:

• Annual increases in minimum compensation of 3% per year of the contract.
• A new residual payment applicable to “move-over” exhibition on the Peacock streaming platform.
• The elimination of crediting of overscale compensation against residuals payments for new production under this contract, resulting in significant increases in residuals payments for all performers going forward.
• New deadlines for residuals reporting and payment, and new late payment liquidated damages of 0.5% per month applicable to claims.
• Anti-sexual harassment and audition safety provisions added.
• Adoption of most provisions of the AMPTP-Joint Unions Return to Work Agreement for COVID safety.
• Overnight rest period increased from 10 to 11 hours, except on location, with substantially increased penalties for violations.
• Enhanced meal period protections, including a requirement for vegetarian options and penalties for violations of meal period requirements.
• New engagement provision requires certain information to be provided to performers in advance.
• A 0.5% increase in the health and pension contribution rate effective at the end of the contract term.

Telemundo performers voted to unionize on March 8, 2017, and reached their first agreement after 15 months of negotiations.

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.