Joint Policy Committee on

Broadcast Talent Union Relations

   JOINT NEWS RELEASE

   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Unions, Advertising Industry Hold Productive Meeting

New York and Los Angeles (April 12, 2006) – As previously announced, the advertising industry’s Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC) and representatives of Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) met this past Saturday, April 8, at Guild headquarters in Los Angeles to begin preliminary discussions in advance of the expiration of the current Commercials contract on October 29, 2006. 

Both parties characterized the meeting as a full and fair discussion of the many issues surrounding the Commercials contracts. The discussion also focused on consideration of a joint study of alternate methods to compensate performers for their participation in commercials that appear on television and radio as well as in the growing array of new media. Should the JPC and the unions agree to commission such a joint study, it would be conducted by an independent consultant with experience in television, radio and labor relations.

The parties also agreed to hold additional meetings in the near future.  No dates have yet been announced.

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   Press Contacts: 

   John Hinrichs

   AFTRA

   (323) 634-8115

   jhinrichs@aftra.com

Seth Oster

SAG 

(323) 549-6872

soster@sag.org

Lesley Weiner

CooperKatz & Company

(212) 455-8079

lweiner@cooperkatz.com