NYC Street
Jun 18th 2008, 08:34 AM
This message went out yesterday from one of our reps on the AFTRA National Board. You should receive your ballot shortly.
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This morning ballot is being sent to you on an important nationwide AFTRA contract. I’m asking that you make sure that you open it, vote YES and return it, without delay. If your AFTRA mail goes to your manager or agent, please make sure that they get it to you so that you can vote YES.
The contract is known as the Primetime/Exhibit A contract. Ordinarily broadcasters might not think it that important, but this year it’s different, for two reasons.
Not only does the Primetime/Exhibit A contract contain raises at rates that are applied in the rest of the Network Code contract, under which many of us, myself included, work, it also is critically important to help AFTRA actors – who so often support us. If this contract is not ratified, they may be subject to a lockout, or impacted by a potential strike by the Screen Actors Guild, which has been unable to reach a contract with the same producers with whom our bargaining committee negotiated Primetime/Exhibit A.
For those of you who’re interested, below is a summary of the gains achieved in this contract. If you have any questions or want more information, please feel free to get in touch.
Regards,
Dave Browde
newsguy@panix.com
AFTRA National Board Member
AFTRA Health & Retirement Trustee
Highlights of our new proposed three-year agreement—known as “Exhibit A” of the Network Code—include:
• Increases in base pay rates in each year of the contract.
• Increases in employer contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement Plan to 15% in 2009.
• Significant increases in “major role” minimums and overtime pay for three-day players.
• A raise in the number of covered background actors in Los Angeles.
• Improved terms and conditions for performers on CW programming – amounting to almost a 400% raise.
• Confirmed jurisdiction over programs produced directly for the Internet and New Media.
• New residuals structures for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) and ad-supported streaming that increase the rates currently paid by employers.
• Preservation of the bedrock principle of performer consent for non-promotional use of excerpts in New Media.
• Expanded access to data on new media transactions plus a sunset stipulation on all New Media provisions, which will allow both sides to revisit this area with fresh and informed viewpoints when the agreement expires in 2011.
---
This morning ballot is being sent to you on an important nationwide AFTRA contract. I’m asking that you make sure that you open it, vote YES and return it, without delay. If your AFTRA mail goes to your manager or agent, please make sure that they get it to you so that you can vote YES.
The contract is known as the Primetime/Exhibit A contract. Ordinarily broadcasters might not think it that important, but this year it’s different, for two reasons.
Not only does the Primetime/Exhibit A contract contain raises at rates that are applied in the rest of the Network Code contract, under which many of us, myself included, work, it also is critically important to help AFTRA actors – who so often support us. If this contract is not ratified, they may be subject to a lockout, or impacted by a potential strike by the Screen Actors Guild, which has been unable to reach a contract with the same producers with whom our bargaining committee negotiated Primetime/Exhibit A.
For those of you who’re interested, below is a summary of the gains achieved in this contract. If you have any questions or want more information, please feel free to get in touch.
Regards,
Dave Browde
newsguy@panix.com
AFTRA National Board Member
AFTRA Health & Retirement Trustee
Highlights of our new proposed three-year agreement—known as “Exhibit A” of the Network Code—include:
• Increases in base pay rates in each year of the contract.
• Increases in employer contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement Plan to 15% in 2009.
• Significant increases in “major role” minimums and overtime pay for three-day players.
• A raise in the number of covered background actors in Los Angeles.
• Improved terms and conditions for performers on CW programming – amounting to almost a 400% raise.
• Confirmed jurisdiction over programs produced directly for the Internet and New Media.
• New residuals structures for paid Internet downloads (electronic sell-through) and ad-supported streaming that increase the rates currently paid by employers.
• Preservation of the bedrock principle of performer consent for non-promotional use of excerpts in New Media.
• Expanded access to data on new media transactions plus a sunset stipulation on all New Media provisions, which will allow both sides to revisit this area with fresh and informed viewpoints when the agreement expires in 2011.