Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1486263
20 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2022 | sagaftra.org For Members A t its Oct. 22 videoconference plenary, the SAG-AFTRA National Board appointed members of the 2023 TV/ Theatrical Wages and Working Conditions Plenary and Negotiating Committee, adopted a resolution affirming restrictions on self-tapes under the low budget agreements, and announced a set of new podcast-specific contracts. There are now two options for podcasters: the MicroPod Agreement for podcasts that generate less than $10,000 of income per year or season, and the Independent Podcast Agreement for podcasts that generate $10,000 or more in earnings. More information on the new Podcast Contracts can be found at sagaftra.org/podcastcontracts. The Board unanimously voted to appoint members of the 2023 TV/ Theatrical Wages and Working Conditions Plenary and Negotiating Committee, which will be chaired by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. The committee will oversee the member-led wages and working conditions process and the subsequent negotiations for successor agreements to the TV/Theatrical Contracts during bargaining expected to commence in 2023. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland will serve as chief negotiator of the contracts with Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez as lead negotiator. SAG-AFTRA members also continued their work of putting in place additional self-tape protections for members. The Board adopted a joint resolution by the Low Budget Committee and the TV/ Theatrical Standing Committee that affirms page restrictions on all self-tapes under the low budget agreements. In addition, a newly seated Self-Tape Committee will coordinate the ongoing work of various union committees around self-taping. Drescher updated the Board about efforts to get out the vote and announced a panel discussion on voting and voting rights held in partnership with the National Football League Players Association, Rock the Vote and the Brennan Center. She updated the Board on the activities of the Green Council, noting a number of new members and the group's focused mission of banning single-use plastic on sets and onscreen. On the legislative front, Drescher reported on efforts to support the American Music Fairness Act, the CROWN Act and the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act. The American Music Fairness Act will ensure that singers and musicians are paid when their work is played on AM/FM radio. The CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on a person's hair texture for all federally assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations and employment. Drescher noted that a statement of support for this legislation, signed by members of the National Board and dozens of influential performers, was delivered to Congress. Crabtree-Ireland updated the Board on the status of several contracts, noting that both the Network Television Code and Netflix Agreements had been ratified by members since the last National Board plenary. He also reported that since its introduction less than a year ago, there have been more than $6 million in covered earnings under the Influencer Agreement, plus even more under the Influencer Waiver. He noted that the union is actively investigating and acting on developing technologies including AI, the metaverse, NFTs and other technologies to ensure SAG-AFTRA members are protected and can take advantage of newly developing areas of work. In the finance report, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, noting that the union is on solid financial footing and tracking favorable to plan. National Board Preps for TV/Theatrical Negotiations, Expands Podcast Coverage and Affirms Self-Tape Limits Contract Updates S AG-AFTRA negotiates contracts year round — but negotiators can't do it without member involvement. Prior to sitting across the table from employers, the union gathers input from those who work a particular contract so that negotiators know which provisions are most important to them. That's why it's important to participate in the process. Here are some upcoming contracts: News & Broadcast Still in progress or starting in 2023: • KPCC • WBUR • Telemundo N.Y. • Univision N.Y. • CBS Network News • ABC Network News • ABC, CBS and NBC Stations • Gray TV Stations • Nexstar TV Stations • Audacy Radio Stations • iHeart Radio Stations • Democracy Now! • First contracts with Marketplace, PBS NewsHour, KIRO Producers and WPXI Producers TV/Theatrical Contracts Wages and working conditions meetings take place in December and January. Watch your emails and sagaftra.org for details.