Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/377629
SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 11 For Members N E W S , I N F O R M AT I O N A N D B E N E F I T S I n voting that concluded Aug. 22, members of SAG-AFTRA voted overwhelmingly to approve the 2014 TV/Theatrical contracts. Members approved new, three-year contracts covering theatrical, primetime and basic cable television production under the 2014 SAG-AFTRA Codified Basic Agreement and the 2014 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement by a vote of 92.12 percent to 7.88 percent. The new television contract establishes the first industrywide agreement covering performers in both primetime television and basic cable productions. The agreement covers film and digital television programs, motion pictures and new media productions. Informational voting cards were mailed to approximately 137,000 members of SAG-AFTRA, of which 16 percent voted. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington. The agreement becomes effective retroactive to July 1, 2014 and will remain in force through June 30, 2017. For more on the new contract, see page 18, and for a summary of the agreement, go to SAGAFTRA.org. Network Television Code Ahead There has been a lot of activity at SAG-AFTRA in advance of the negotiations for the union's Network Television Code agreement, which covers syndicated dramatic programs, daytime serials, promotional announcements and variety, quiz, game, reality, talk, news, sports and other non-dramatic programs. The union is currently conducting wages and working conditions meetings, soliciting the member feedback that drives the negotiation of the contract. Previously, the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the appointment of a National Network Television Code Wages & Working Conditions Committee of 13 voting members and 10 alternates that will also serve as the negotiating committee. SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard will chair the committee and National Executive Director David White will serve as chief negotiator. Negotiations are tentatively scheduled to take place with the AMPTP in October and November. The current contract expires Nov. 15. National Board member Holter Graham explained the importance of the contract. "Primetime is just that: prime. But people have to understand that the Network Television Code is the other 21 hours of television. It's the rest of the clock. Letterman, the nightly news, Ellen: we're talking serious TV," he said. Sound Recordings Negotiations In April, SAG-AFTRA's Sound Recordings Department began negotiations with representatives from the recording industry on a successor agreement to the National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings. The current Sound Recordings Code expires in December. The opening round of negotiations took place April 23 and 24 in Los Angeles with members of the Sound Recordings Code member negotiating committee, chaired by SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Recording Artists Dan Navarro, and representatives from Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Disney Music Group and most of their subsidiary labels. SAG-AFTRA Assistant National Executive Director for Sound Recordings Randall Himes is serving as chief negotiator for the union. Negotiations are scheduled through September, with meetings alternating between New York and Los Angeles. The next negotiating session will take place in September in New York City. The Sound Recordings Code, which originated in 1951, is one of the union's largest contracts, covering singers (both royalty and non-royalty artists), as well as announcers, actors, comedians, narrators and sound effects artists who work on recordings in all new and traditional media and all music formats, comedy albums and cast albums. Animation Negotiations Negotiations at press time were ongoing for successor agreements to the Screen Actors Guild Television Animation Agreement and the Screen Actors Guild Basic Cable Agreement for Animated Motion Pictures. Check your email and SAGAFTRA.org for the latest news. Interactive Agreements The Interactive Media Agreements expire Dec. 31. The union has been engaged in outreach to the interactive performers community and there will be further updates on these contracts in the coming weeks. TV/THEATRICAL CONTRACTS RATIFIED Contracts Update