3-28-08
Actors Agree to Negotiate Together
AFTRA Makes Daytime Deal
AFTRA and SAG have decided to play nice and negotiate together for the TV/Theatricals contract. The Association of Motion Picture & Television Producers has asked for negotiations to start as early as April 1, but the unions likely won’t be ready by then. The unions’ Wages and Working Conditions committee met in L.A. this past Tuesday and Wednesday, and a joint board meeting to set negotiation strategy will be held in L.A. on March 29. After that meeting, a first negotiation is likely to be scheduled. Reardon thinks it will be sometime in mid-April. The contract expires June 30.
The TV/Theatricals talks come on the heels of AFTRA’s successful Network Code negotiations. Net Code covers all of network television (CBS, NBC, ABC, FOX, CW) that’s not primetime, scripted programming. That encompasses morning news shows, talk shows, soap operas, game shows, late night, reality, sports. Net Code covers 70 percent of network television, and is only administered by AFTRA.
The main goal in the Net Code negotiations was to establish—as the writers and directors did—new media jurisdiction. They got that, in what Reardon calls a “remarkably civil” negotiation. AFTRA’s daytime performers will receive gross of distribution, but at a higher rate than the writers or directors.
With performers, Reardon pointed out, “there are more people sharing the money.”
But AFTRA also had some bread and butter goals. Namely, they wanted to update the code to reflect today’s TV producing environment. Many actors, dancers, stunt-people, etc. were paid per program—which benefited them in the 1960s, when they would knock off six programs in one day. That model still works for game shows, and some talk shows. But AFTRA was able to change many of their shows to day rates, so that their members would get paid for the hours, no matter how long it took to shoot the particular show. The union also improved overtime and got health and pension for stunt coordinators.
“The problem with the Network Code is that it covers a lot of different entertainment,” said Reardon. “The swath of work makes it very complicated to deal with.”
Reardon is hoping, though, that the speed, if not ease, of the Net Code negotiations will translate into the next set of talks.
Previous stories on this issue:
SAG Steps Back to Make Deal with AFTRA
SAG to Hold Referendum on Phase 1
Jurisdictional Disputes Threaten to Break AFTRA/SAG Alliance
AFTRA Petitions to Pull Out of AAAA
AFTRA/SAG on Verge of Permanent Split