SAG-AFTRA Members Approve New Three-Year Commercials Contracts

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, USA (May 9, 2016) — SAG-AFTRA members have overwhelmingly approved successor television, audio and digital commercials contracts. The three-year contracts, negotiated with the advertising industry will result in more than $200 million in wage increases and other payments for all categories of performers and an increase in the pension, health and retirement contribution rates, among other gains. In national voting completed today, the membership of SAG-AFTRA voted 92.25 percent in favor of the new agreements.

SAG-AFTRA President and Negotiating Committee Co-Chair Gabrielle Carteris said, “The commercials contracts help protect the working conditions, livelihood and pension, health and retirement benefits of thousands of our members. The robust participation in this ratification vote demonstrates how SAG-AFTRA’s future is driven from our members up to the elected leadership. I want to thank the members who voted and congratulate our negotiating team, including co-chair Sue-Anne Morrow and our negotiators, David White and Ray Rodriguez, on a job well done.”

Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington, facilitated the voting and certified the final count. The new contracts go into effect immediately, retroactive to April 1, 2016, and remain in force until March 31, 2019.

The highlights of the new contracts include:      
• Over $200 million in wage increases and other payments for all categories of performers;
• Strategic expansion to the definition of a commercial that will help protect the contract’s coverage in the area of digital;
• 7 percent upfront increase in wages; 
• 1.2 percent increase in the P&H/H&R contribution rates; 
• 6 percent increase in national cable use fees in addition to the general increase; 
• 2 percent increase in Class A use fees in addition to the general increase;      
• Increases to internet and new media use fees ranging from 6.25 percent to 16.7 percent in addition to the general increase; 
• New protections for minors to ensure set teacher ID and proper credentials are provided;
• New rate for stand-ins at 110 percent of the general extra rate; and
• Recognition of Veteran’s Day as a contractual holiday.

The 2016 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts memorandums of agreement can be found here. For more information, click here.