Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/184869
"Both sides had critical issues to address, but the tenor of these negotiations was one of mutual cooperation to benefit both parties. As a result, the new terms of our agreement are good for members and they entice more productions to go union, which multiplies work opportunities for union actors." —SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator David White AD-ID SYSTEM ONE UNIFIED IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM The Ad-ID system is used to identify commercials — similar to barcoding. Some agencies have developed their own idiosyncratic systems and the way they are coded has made it difficult for the union and the industry to track. Now, commercials produced under the SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts will be identified using the Ad-ID system, creating one unified system to code commercials. Not only is it good for SAG-AFTRA members, but also for the industry, as it will improve the quality of data. The change will be implemented in one year. "This represents a major step forward in our decades-long effort to integrate monitoring of commercials usage into our contracts," said Negotiating Committee Vice Chair David HartleyMargolin. "I feel this really solidifies our relationship with our bargaining partners — the JPC," said Negotiating Committee Vice Chair Ilyssa Fradin. GET PAID To receive payment for audition overtime or third and subsequent auditions, you need to provide the following information each time: •Your name – print clearly •Your member number •Time in and time out, and initial Remember: Every audition dollar you earn contributes to your Pension & Health/Health & Retirement Fund. 24 SAG-AFTRA commercials_v17.indd 24 SPECIAL OFFERS & PROMOTIONS WAIVER Commonly referred to as the "retail waiver," this allows a producer to edit a commercial to reference new products, whether branded or not. It covers advertisers that sell products directly to the public, such as supermarkets, toy stores, department stores and discount retailers. Excluded are advertisers that predominantly or exclusively sell their own products, including fast food restaurants and singlebrand retailers. When "multibrand retailers" edit a commercial to refer to a new product, the principal performers making the change will continue to be paid a separate session fee for each change. Principal performers not rendering services for the change will be paid a session fee for the first variation of the commercial, and then 150 percent of a scale session fee for every four variations after that. The variations are limited to product/item changes advertised within the retailer and are considered one commercial for use purposes. Additionally, only one variation may run in the same market at the same time and is subject to a two-week promotional run. Lastly, performers must be advised of this waiver at the time of audition, as well as when they are hired. If they are not notified, the waiver is not applicable to that employment. This notice may be indicated in the Special Provisions section of the performer's employment contract. The model is based on an experimental agreement the legacy unions negotiated with a supermarket chain years back. "This waiver will give us the opportunity to recapture work across the country for all members," said Negotiating Committee Vice Chair Ilyssa Fradin. "It's also good for the retailers because it allows them to hire professional talent again and maintain their budgets." Negotiating Committee Vice Chair David Hartley-Margolin agreed. "Years ago, supermarket and grocery chains regularly employed many of our members to perform in their television and radio commercials. Over time, however, the majority of that work has drifted away from union production," he said. "By negotiating a wellfenced retail provision into our Commercials Contract based on an experimental waiver originally granted years ago, we have opened the door to recapturing what had turned into non-union work. "This organizing strategy incorporated into the Commercials Contract is a prime example of SAG-AFTRA pursuing one of the four core activities of our union: recapturing and expanding unionprotected employment," he added. | Summer 2013 | SAGAFTRA.org 8/28/13 2:49 PM