Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/308664
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 SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2014 | SAG-AFTRA 11 COMBINED EARNINGS FOR HEALTH PLAN ON THE WAY I n December, the trustees of the SAG-Producers Health Plan (SAG-PHP) announced a new way to meet the needs of members who do not qualify for coverage under either the SAG-PHP or the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds. At that time it was announced that beginning July 1, 2014, members with earnings under SAG-AFTRA contracts may be able to combine their earnings reportable to each plan in order to meet the dollar earnings requirement for SAG-PHP Plan II eligibility (currently $15,100). We are pleased to announce that more information regarding this benefit has now been announced by SAG-PHP, including how and when to apply. To learn more, please review SAG-PHP's Special Edition Take 2 newsletter, found online at sagph.org. Members may visit the SAG-PHP website aer May 19 to apply or, if they do not have Internet access, they can call (800) 777-4013 Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. PT. e union's primary goal is for the merging of the SAG and AFTRA plans, and we continue to support the efforts of the trustees to find ways to qualify participants for health coverage through their combined earnings under SAG-AFTRA contracts. T here's a full slate of contracts headed to negotiations in the coming months, and SAG-AFTRA members and staff have been hard at work making the necessary preparations. TV/Theatrical, Basic Cable & Animation e contracts for TV/theatrical, basic cable live action, basic cable animation and TV animation are all due to expire June 30. At its April 13 plenary in Los Angeles, the national board approved proposals for the TV/eatrical – Exhibit A contracts. As of press time, negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on the contract are scheduled to begin May 5 in Sherman Oaks, Calif. Sound Recordings Progress is also being made on a successor agreement to the National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings. e wages and working conditions process, known as W&W, where members meet to discuss the code and make proposals for a new agreement, began in March and April with meetings in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. e members' proposals were then approved by the SAG-AFTRA Executive Committee. NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE e first negotiation meeting took place with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and Disney Records on April 23 in Los Angeles. Although the sound recordings contract doesn't expire until Dec. 31, both sides were willing to enter early negotiations. Interactive Members will soon be notified about a series of caucuses that will be held nationwide to discuss the Interactive Media Agreement, which expires Dec. 31. e process is critical to understanding what members find most important, so that the union's negotiating committee and staff can address those needs through contract proposals. Members who work the contract are strongly encouraged to participate. Network Code In August, the W&W process for the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, otherwise known as the Network Code, will begin. e code covers TV programming outside of network primetime scripted shows, such as talk shows, sports announcing, promo announcements, game shows, daytime serials and comedy variety shows. e existing contract expires Nov. 15, and negotiations are tentatively planned to start in October. Elected leaders, members and staff at the sound recordings W&W in Nashville on April 2. 11-19_For Members_F.indd 11 4/23/14 4:17 PM