DGA Monthly

6 I D G A M O N T H L Y DGA Membership Ratifi es New Network Agreements DGA members have voted overwhelmingly to ratify the new Network Agreements. These collective bargaining agreements between the DGA and ABC, CBS and NBC cover staff and freelance members employed in news, sports, local and operations at the companies' television networks and many of their owned local television stations. Voting, which closed on June 2, 2026, came after the DGA National Board's unanimous approval on May 18, 2026. The Network Agreements are separate from the Guild's Basic Agreement and the Freelance Live and Tape Television Agreement. Highlights of the tentative agreement include: • A strong economic package that provides for 3% yearly wage increases for staff and freelance employees, plus a 1% increase to the Employer Health Plan contribution rate for freelance employees in each of the fi rst two years of the Agreement (with the right to divert additional amounts from wages for freelance employees to the Health Plan not to exceed 2% in each such year), for a total economic package of 4% in each of the fi rst two years, subject to limited exceptions. (Note that to match the healthcare increase negotiated in the BA/FLTTA, on June 11th the National Board authorized a diversion of .75% from the freelance wage increase effective July 1, 2026. As a result, the corresponding wage increase for freelance employees, who are eligible to participate in DGA healthcare, will be 2.25% in the fi rst year of the agreement.) • Artifi cial Intelligence protections mirroring the high standards set in the 2023 DGA Basic Agreement/FLTTA negotiations, which extend critical AI safeguards to our news and sports members as technology continues to impact our workplaces. • Major streaming breakthroughs, including fi rst-time DGA jurisdiction over premium sporting events on ESPN streaming platforms. Covered sports include all NFL games, most NHL, NBA, WNBA, MLB and NCAA Playoff games, and the premium rounds of the US Open Tennis Tournament. Additionally, we achieved our longtime goal of gaining jurisdiction over CBS 24/7. Now, all three Network streaming news platforms are DGA. • To guard against the impact of the potential Paramount acquisition of Warner Bros. on CBS's news and sports operations, the DGA confi rmed a process to negotiate over a consolidation of operations, and if necessary, reopen the agreement during its term to protect our jurisdiction and coverage. • Many other improvements, including an additional two paid days off for freelance employees for a total of nine days, transportation safety reimbursement for certain overnight employees, and expanded and increased fees for Associate Directors and Stage Managers on network morning shows. • The Agreement has a three-year term with a DGA option to extend for a fourth year, in which case there will be an additional 3% wage increase and all other terms will remain the same through June 30, 2030. The negotiations between the DGA's Network Negotiations Committee and ABC, CBS and NBC began in December in New York and concluded in early May. The Committee was headed by Chair Lily Olszewski (DGA Sixth Vice-President/Director, ABC's Good Morning America) with Co-Chairs Brett Holey (Senior Director, NBC News), and DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Joyce Thomas (Associate Director, CBS's Media Distribution Center) together with lead negotiator, DGA Associate National Executive Director/Eastern Executive Director Neil Dudich. The Guild's current contract with the networks expires on June 30, 2026. The new contract will cover the period of July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, or through June 30, 2030 if extended by an additional year. If you have any questions about the new agreement, please contact DGA Associate Eastern Executive Director Michael Berger in New York at (212) 258-0802 or DGA Assistant Executive Director Vada Hedgeman in Los Angeles at (310) 289-2067. DGA Network Negotiating Committee

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