AFTRA, SAG and Non-Broadcast Producers

Reach Tentative Agreement on Successor Pact

Deal Provides for Staggered Rate and Benefit Increases

New York/Los Angeles (April 22, 2005)—The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and representatives for producers of non-broadcast, educational and industrial material have reached a tentative deal on successor agreements to the 2002-2005 AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Non-Broadcast/Industrial/Educational Recorded Material and the Producers-Screen Actors Guild 2002 Codified Industrial and Educational Contract, yesterday, in New York City.  These contracts cover performers rendering on-camera and voice-over services in sales programs, educational and training videos, informational and promotional messages heard over the telephone or in stores and other projects that are exhibited outside of the traditional broadcast arena.  The tentative deal includes an immediate one percent (1%) increase in the contribution rates into the unions’ benefit funds and a four percent (4%) rate increase halfway through its term. 

The tentative agreement will be submitted for ratification to the AFTRA National Board of Directors on April 30, 2005 and to the SAG National Executive Committee on May 4, 2005. 

If ratified, the new three-year pact will become effective on May 1, 2005, when the current contracts expire, and will remain in full force until midnight on April 30, 2008. 

AFTRA Negotiating Committee Chair Roberta Reardon and SAG Negotiating Committee Chair Paul Napier noted:  “We are gratified that this deal was made in a fair and expeditious manner.  It is an ongoing challenge to balance the needs of working performers and the reality of this industry, which operates under a business model that is different from our traditional bargaining partners. We made advances in critical areas such as wages and benefits and we did so quickly.  This is a bread and butter contract for our locals and branches across the country and it was critical that this work continued to be covered without interruption.”