SAG-AFTRA‘s national board is recommending the guild’s latest contract with the major studios to its full membership for ratification.
The board “decisively” approved the deal, tentatively sealed earlier this month, on Monday, per the union. SAG-AFTRA did not specify how the vote shook out. Now, the membership will need to vote.
Among the provisions in the new TV/Theatrical agreement, the parties agreed to merge the SAG-Producers Pension Plan and AFTRA Retirement Fund with an additional 1% to the contribution rate effective on the target completion date of January 1, 2028. The agreement also bolsters AI protections, specifically around consent and compensation, and establishes minimum rate increases.
Additionally, the agreement builds on our existing guidelines around AI including new provisions strengthening consent and compensation and establishing new and enhanced guardrails on synthetics including:
The full summary of the tentative agreement can be read HERE.
The actors union managed to reach a new agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers just one week into resumed talks. After negotiations began on February 9, the parties had previously paused to make way for the WGA in March. Both guild and union sources had told Deadline that they were not far off from a deal, but a few key issues — including regarding AI measures — still needed to be ironed out.
As we reported earlier, labor sources told us SAG-AFTRA has received a “sizable” contribution to its pension fund from the AMPTP. This follows the WGA, which similarly agreed to an extended-length contract with the studios and streamers last month in its own negotiations, accepting a multi-million contribution to its ailing healthcare plan. As with the WGA, there were a series of AI “guardrail” measures put in place between the SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP parties.
SAG-AFTRA has not yet released the full deal. Details are expected upon ratification.
The labor news will keep on coming as the DGA steps up to the plate. The Christopher Nolan-led organization sat down with the AMPTP May 11 to begin bargaining.
