SAG-AFTRA Adopts Proposals For Commercials Contract: Talks Start Feb. 15

SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA’s national board, meeting on Saturday, has approved proposals for a new commercials contract. Negotiations with the Joint Policy Committee of the advertising industry are set to begin Feb. 15 in New York. The current contract expires March 31.

Former SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris will chair the negotiating committee. National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland will serve as chief negotiator with Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez as lead negotiator.

“I’m excited to lead the commercials negotiations and serve as chief negotiator on this important agreement,” Crabtree-Ireland said. “Negotiating strong contracts is the key to our success as a union, and ensuring the growth of employment opportunities under our commercials contracts is a priority for SAG-AFTRA.”

Fran Drescher, the union’s president, said she’s “so impressed by the dedication and intellect of the negotiating committee that painstakingly put together this proposal package, which really addresses the needs of commercial actors and pushes the needle forward.”

SAG-AFTRA has never struck commercial producers, but its pre-merger predecessors – SAG and AFTRA – struck them four times: for 183 days in 2000; for 26 days in 1988; for 51 days in 1978-79, and for 80 days in 1952-53.

The board also voted to allow an automatic 2% increase in annual base dues – from $222.96 to $227.42 – effective May 1, 2022.

In their financial report, secretary-treasurer Joely Fisher and chief financial officer Arianna Ozzanto reported that revenue and expenses are both tracking better than planned for the second quarter. Ozzanto presented an overview of new members for fiscal year 2022 showing a “significant increase” in new members and initiation fee revenue compared to fiscal year 2021.

In her president’s report, Drescher announced the appointment of members to the National Sexual Harassment Committee, and reported on the union’s efforts to build and expand the profession of intimacy coordinators. She also provided a preview of the union’s efforts on green sustainability and the establishment of a seniors-in-crisis relief fund in cooperation with the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.

She also reported on ongoing legislative efforts, including the American Music Fairness Act, which included SAG-AFTRA member Gloria Estefan’s testimony last week before the House Judiciary Committee – and updates on the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act.

In his national executive director’s report, Crabtree-Ireland highlighted the union’s efforts to enhance member service by replenishing staff lost due to “pandemic resource conservation.” He also noted that the union’s ongoing contract enforcement efforts had resulted in $8 million in payouts to performers in a residuals library claim.

He also showcased the unions innovations and improvements to automate operations, including the online cast clearance portal, which has been used to clear 35,143 performers since its launch. He also noted the success of an online joining system, through which 85% of new members have joined since its launch in August 2020.