Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1237518
1 0 I D G A M O N T H L Y On April 3, DGA President Thomas Schlamme announced that the Guild's membership voted by an overwhelming margin to ratify the new collective bargaining agreements between the DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). "I am proud to report that our membership overwhelmingly voted to ratify the new contract. In a time of enormous uncertainty as we're all feeling the weight of this current pandemic, it is at least reassuring for our members to know that when the industry resumes production, a strong new agreement awaits them," said Schlamme. "The agreement contains important gains in key areas, including dramatic improvements in SVOD residuals and coverage; a significant increase in funding for our Pension Plan to secure our retirement promises now and into the future; healthy wage increases; and significant wins in television creative rights. This was a complex negotiation, and our thanks go to our Negotiating Committee, led by Negotiations Co- Chairs Jon Avnet and Todd Holland, our National Executive Director Russell Hollander, and our excellent professional staff." Formal negotiations with the AMPTP began on Monday, February 10, and concluded on March 4. Talks were led by Negotiations Committee Co-Chairs Jon Avnet and Todd Holland and the DGA's chief negotiator, National Executive Director Russell Hollander. Television Creative Rights Negotiations were chaired by Paris Barclay and co-chaired by Matthew Penn. On March 7, the DGA's National Board of Directors unanimously recommended sending the contract to members for ratification. Ratification voting opened on March 11 and the results were tallied on April 2. DGA Membership Ratifies New Contract by Overwhelming Margin The DGA and the AMPTP shake hands on a tentative new agreement on March 4, 2020