You can explore our website resources – your resources – here in a convenient SAG-AFTRA member toolkit centered around the contracts you work and the issues you face as members.
And please note — a few of the links are for websites of third-party organizations. SAG-AFTRA is not responsible for their content, but provides those links as a service.
Mission Statement and Union History
SAG-AFTRA is committed to organizing all work done under our jurisdictions; negotiating the best wages, working conditions, and health and pension benefits; preserving and expanding members’ work opportunities; vigorously enforcing our contracts; and protecting members against unauthorized use of their work. Click for Full Mission Statement
Membership Responsibilities and Benefits
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Contracts, Rates Sheets and MOAs
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Contact Info: Entertainment Contracts Dept. - Theatrical (323) 549-6828 or entcontractsinfo@sagaftra.org
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Low Budget Theatrical = Maximum budget of less than $2,000,000
Moderate Low Budget (MPA) = Maximum budget of less than $700,000
Ultra Low Budget (UPA) = Maximum budget of $300,000
Short Project Agreement (SPA) = maximum total budget of $50,000 & 40min or less runtime
Micro-Budget Agreement = Maximum budget of $20,000 or less per picture or per episode
Contact Info: Entertainment Contracts Dept. - Theatrical, (323) 549-6828 or entcontractsinfo@sagaftra.org
SAGIndie - for independent producers, (323) 549-6064
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The New Media Agreement covers original and derivative entertainment productions made for initial release on new media platforms.
Special New Media - limited to projects with an initial new media release
Contact Info: Entertainment Contracts Dept. - New Media (323) 549-6446 or entcontractsinfo@sagaftra.org
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Most scripted live action television is covered by the Codified Basic Agreement, as modified by the TV Agreement plus MOAs. These rate sheets and agreements are listed below.
The programming covered includes live action scripted programming made for network prime time; most scripted live action programming made for streaming platforms; other scripted live action new media programming made by major media companies; and most scripted live action programming made for basic cable and premium cable.
- Television Rate Sheet
- Promo Announcements and Television Trailer Rate Sheet
- 2017 Theatrical/Television MOA
- Get Your Per Diem Paid On Time
- Contact Info: Entertainment Contracts Dept. - Television (323) 549-6835 or entcontractsinfo@sagaftra.org
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Some television programming is covered by the Television Contracts (Netcode). This includes daytime serials (soap operas), non-prime time scripted live action programs, and unscripted television (in all dayparts) and new media programming (including streaming). The Netcode and related MOAs are listed here.
- Network Code Master Agreement (MOA)
- Contact Info: Entertainment Contracts Dept. - Television (323) 549-6835 or entcontractsinfo@sagaftra.org
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The Commercials Contracts cover advertising programs generally under three minutes in length and intended for use on television, foreign, theatrical, radio and new media.
- Regional Commercial Codes
- Contact Info: Commercials Contracts Dept. (323) 549-6858 or comm.coedinfo@sagaftra.org
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All the tools for producers to employ our members, including step-by-step signatory tutorials. SAG-AFTRA Production Center
Understanding MOAs (Memorandums of Agreements)
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If you browse the contracts, you may be wondering about the difference between an agreement, such as the 2014 Codified Basic Agreement (CBA), and a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), such as the 2017 and 2020 MOAs, all three of which listed below under Theatrical. Here’s the skinny.
On varying schedules every three years or so, SAG-AFTRA negotiates with employers for revisions to its major, nationwide, industry wide agreements. Those negotiations result in an MOA that is essentially a set of revision instructions to the existing agreement (such as the CBA) that was under negotiation. Those revisions typically include increases in wages, revisions to existing contract language, and addition of new contract language.
For instance, the (2021) terms and conditions for theatrical work are found by consulting the 2014 CBA and then looking at the 2017 and 2020 MOAs to see what’s changed since 2014. The CBA is over 750 pages, while the MOAs are around 50 pages each.
Every few negotiating cycles, the CBA gets revised (by a joint union-management team) in accordance with the MOAs, producing a new CBA. Thus, in the future, there might be a 2023 CBA, for instance. That would mean that a producer or performer working a theatrical movie in 2024 would only need to look at the 2023 CBA, and would not need to refer to the 2014 CBA plus 2017, 2020 and 2023 MOAs.
- Likewise, in television, commercials and several other SAG-AFTRA contracts, you will find agreements and MOAs listed. Sometimes you might also find an extension letter, which extends an existing contract for a short period (typically a year at most) with little or no change.
But other agreements work differently. For instance, the low budget theatrical and independent new media agreements are not negotiated or renegotiated every few years with management. Instead, the union creates, issues and updates these contracts itself. For that reason, they are referred to as promulgated agreements.
The promulgated agreements are typically each 10-15 pages at most. But most of them cross-reference the CBA.. Thus, a low budget theatrical production in 2021 will be subject to the terms of the 2014 CBA, as modified by the 2017 and 2020 MOAs and by the particular low-budget agreement.
In addition, there are sometimes sideletters entered into for a particular production, which provide further modifications or additional terms that apply only to a single production. These are not posted online.
You’ll also find rate sheets, contract digests, FAQs and other informational materials listed below. These are not contracts, but instead are summaries of portions of the agreements and MOAs.
Residuals
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Residuals include payments made for free TV, basic cable, pay cable, video/DVD, New Media, and theatrical productions. Commercial residuals are not processed by SAG-AFTRA, but are mailed direct from the payroll companies and will not be listed on the Residuals Tracker. If you have a question about commercial residuals, please contact the Commercials Department at (323) 549-6858, or by email: comm.coedinfo@sagaftra.org
Because of the way some productions report payments for multiple markets or runs, all payments for the production may be “rolled up” into one amount.
This amount will show up on a single market line of the production detail, with subsequent markets showing $0.00. This does not mean that you were not paid for the other markets, just that the total aggregated amount is reported in the one market.
In addition, should you choose to view payments currently in process, the net amount will not be available in the check detail. That information is not entered until the payment is fully processed and has a mail date. Members should expect to receive their residuals within 60 days from the date SAG-AFTRA receives the checks and producers’ information.
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Residuals Dept. call (323) 549-6505 or residuals@sagaftra.org
Commercial Residuals call (323) 549-6858 or comm.coedinfo@sagaftra.org
Claims
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A claim inquiry is an allegation that the signatory employer on a SAG-AFTRA, AFTRA or SAG production has violated the collective bargaining agreement in any way. Once a claim inquiry has been filed with SAG-AFTRA, it is investigated by members of the Contracts Team to determine if it is valid with respect to the apparent facts and relevant contract provisions. If the claim inquiry has been determined to have sufficient validity, it is filed by SAG-AFTRA with the employer as a formal claim. If it has not been determined to be valid, the inquiry is closed and the performer(s) who submitted the inquiry is advised of the union’s decision and the reasons for the determination.
Please allow up to 30 business days for a Claim Inquiry Status to show up in the Claim Inquiry tracker. If you do not see it, please contact the appropriate department to which you submitted the claim.
Safe Sets
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Sexual Harassment Resources
Organizing
Social Media, Podcasts and News
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The Locals - What Local am I in?
Pension & Health
SAG-AFTRA negotiates to have employers (such as producers, ad agencies, etc.) fund health and pension/retirement plans. As required by federal law, those plans are administered and controlled by separate organizations. Here are links to learn more about these benefits.