SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA Summer 2012

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HISTORIC MUSIC VIDEO AGREEMENT FORGED the major record labels to cover dancers and other performers on music videos. The three-year agreement was reached during talks between I n its first major action as a new union SAG-AFTRA has successfully negotiated a first-ever industrywide contract with the union and the major record labels — Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, EMI Music and The Walt Disney Co. — on May 30 and 31 in Los Angeles. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White said that the union's focus on organizing has been rewarded with these latest gains for members. "We reached a historic, tentative agreement with the first Beat Freaks dance crew members BGirl Shorty, left, and Teresa Espinosa industrywide contract for music video performers," White said. "Our members working in this space now have basic health and safety guarantees, minimum daily rates, grievance and arbitration provisions and contributions to our retirement plans. My hearty congratulations to our members, lead negotiator Randy Himes, our national co-counsel Susan Davis, and our terrific team of organizers who worked with members across the country to get this done." "Music videos have been around for 30 years, but this is the first industrywide contract for dancers and other performers," What We Gained • Minimum daily rate for dancers • Contract covers all videos produced by any production company producing music videos on behalf of the labels • A 12.5-percent contribution to AFTRA H&R for all covered performers • Guaranteed production conditions, including water, toilets, chairs and shelters • A binding grievance and arbitration process • Union access to auditions, rehearsals and productions • Improved audition conditions, including notification to performers (or their representatives) of start times; individual audition times no longer than four hours; suitable shelter provided during auditions; scale paid if audition footage is used in a music video and re-use of audition footage is paid pursuant to a re-use agreement • 12-hour rest periods between call times, including rehearsals, makeup and wardrobe • Safety protections and additional compensation for hazardous performances • Wardrobe allowance • Agreement to form a joint labor-management committee to resolve issues as they arise and to assess employment patterns and other matters over the term of the contract 24 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2012 | SAGAFTRA.org On Jan. 6, dancers in New York, Miami and Los Angeles participated in actions outside Sony Music offices. The dancers also performed a flash mob to get the labels' attention.

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