Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/904648
48 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2017 | SAGAFTRA.org performers. Over that time, members kept up pressure, attending rallies, advocating on social media and speaking out on the issues. Meanwhile, SAG-AFTRA continued to sign more than 50 new video games to separately negotiated contracts that contained the same provisions that the struck companies refused to negotiate on. "Creating and implementing a separately negotiated contract that includes secondary compensation — and having 57 games sign on to it — has been the greatest victory of our strike action," said Interactive Negotiating Committee Chair Keythe Farley. "That contract is not going away. Neither is our indie contract, which allows games with budgets under $1.5 million to use union talent. That contract also contains provisions for a secondary payment option." Employers did, at last, return to the table, and the agreement was presented to the membership for ratification. Under the provisions of the new three-year contract, members will see a 3-percent increase to wage minimums per year and health, retirement and pension contributions will increase by a half percent to 16 percent. The contract contains a structure for bonus payments ranging from $75 to $2,100, depending on the number of sessions the performer works. There are tangible gains in a number of other areas that were priorities for the members. Addressing transparency, the employer is now required to provide a full description of the role at the time of booking and whether they are reprising a role. In addition, they will be provided a description of the type of project and whether it's based on an existing IP, if the member will be asked to perform potentially objectionable material and if stunts will be required. SAG-AFTRA will also work with employers to develop best practices for protecting performers' voices. Voice actor Crispin Freeman said that although members didn't get everything they initially sought, they ended up with a far better contract and made a statement about the members' willingness to stand together. "It showed that there was a lot of unity among the members. It showed the video game industry that we are serious about this. And we got a type of secondary payment structure that has never existed before that many people thought was impossible to achieve," he said. Above, President Gabrielle Carteris, Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon and Secretary- Treasurer Jane Austin join hundreds of members marching in Los Angeles during the Video Game Strike Rally on Feb. 2, 2017. Left, members picket outside the Electronic Arts Building on Oct. 24, 2016. JESSE GRANT/SAG-AFTRA