Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/377629
in terms of the way they presented. I can't tell you in words just how proud I was to be working with those people as we worked through this process that was quite difficult. But we succeeded and prevailed. Tom Kemp: It's unfortunate that people couldn't see the hard work and the trust and the faith of the people who were on that committee, who would be from different worlds and different camps in the past, who really focused on what the goal was: Get the best contract that you possibly can. People would be proud if they could see it. John McGuire: There was a uniqueness to this negotiation. It wasn't like a negotiation where you're just looking at a contract and deciding what kind of improvements and changes you want to make. You are faced with the unique challenge of bringing together separate contracts into one agreement, and yet, are also dealing with all the usual things about improving contracts. The outcome was that a structure was created here — a jumping-off spot to be able to go forward with one contract, giving people one set of terms and conditions, and to really be able to build for the future. HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE THE NEGOTIATIONS? White: Our overriding strategic goal for this negotiation was to position this newly merged union for a successful future ... and we achieved that and in the process also earned $30 million more than we did in previous negotiations so that we could walk away with over $200 million of additional earnings. Our members should feel good about that. On almost every level, that's successful — it's not everything that we wanted, but it's successful. Kusatsu: I thought it was ground- breaking. Historically, this is the first time the AMPTP ever met across the table with a unified SAG-AFTRA and not the legacy culture that came with previous negotiations. The interesting thing was, it was a new experience for us and it was a new experience for them. Joan Halpern Weise: This was one of the best negotiating teams I've ever had the privilege of participating with. They truly were a single committee. There were disagreements, there were opposite views, but everyone was so respectful. Commendations to President Howard for leading the group. Having a smaller group that was much more focused really helped us get where we needed to go. HOW DID THE FACT THAT SAG AND AFTRA MERGED AFFECT THE NEGOTIATIONS? Weise: Everything has always been done twice before merger. Now there is one 20 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2014 | SAGAFTRA.org Left, members and staff hard at work during negotiations. Below left, John McGuire and Mike Hodge at the negotiators roundtable. Below, Negotiating Committee members Jay Disney, left, and Abby Dylan with Negotiating Committee Vice Chair Mike Pniewski study the proposals. Opposite page, after nine weeks of intense negotiation with the AMPTP, members and staff celebrate reaching a tentative agreement in the early hours of July 4.