Latest SAG News - JOINT STATEMENT REGARDING JOINT STRATEGIC PLAN ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ENFORCEMENT - LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2010)
American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories and Canada (IATSE), and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today released the following statement:
“As the Guilds and Unions representing more than 300,000 workers in the entertainment and media industries, we are very pleased that the Obama Administration, in today’s release of the Joint Strategic Plan on Intellectual Property Enforcement, underscored that intellectual property protection supports good jobs with high wages and strong benefits across all industries, especially in the highly creative industries in which our members work. The plan also clearly conveys the Administration’s recognition that strong enforcement of intellectual property rights promotes innovation and that intellectual property infringement undermines our country’s national and economic security.
“Internet theft is not a victimless crime as some would like policymakers to believe. It has a direct and very real impact on our members’ livelihoods, their pension and health plans, and their ability to work now and into the future. Internet theft has become a big money-making business that is, like other threats to cyber-security, a threat to the strength of this country and the well-being of its citizens.
“As the Administration recognizes and states explicitly in the plan, the Internet should not be used as a means to support criminal activity, and therefore all participants in the supply chain - not just content providers, but also ISPs, advertising brokers, payment processors and search engines - must play a role in stopping online theft.
“We also agree with the Administration that foreign websites that infringe upon US intellectual property rights are a large and growing problem, and especially complicated because they fall outside of U.S. jurisdiction. We believe that both foreign and U.S.-based sites pose a significant problem, and look forward to working with the Administration as it develops a coordinated and comprehensive plan to address this issue.
“We commend White House Intellectual Property Coordinator Victoria Espinel for developing the initial roadmap on how the U.S. government will protect one of its greatest resources – the intellectual property that comes from the creativity of American minds. We also value the clear vision and steadfast commitment of Vice President Joe Biden to shepherding this process from the start and to protecting hundreds of thousands of jobs across the country.
“Important as this report is, we recognize that a great deal of hard work lies ahead and that the implementation of these recommendations is the critical next step. We look forward to continuing a dialogue and working with the Obama Administration to this end.”
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Latest AFTRA News - AFTRA National Board Approves One-Year Extension of AFTRA Network Television Code
Posted June 11, 2010
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA, AFL-CIO), a national union of more than 70,000 professional performers, recording artists and broadcast journalists, today announced that the AFTRA National Board of Directors unanimously approved a one-year extension to the AFTRA Network Television Code, which covers television programming except network dramatic primetime shows, at its annual face-to-face plenary taking place in New York City.
The one-year extension agreement between AFTRA and the four major television broadcast networks and producers will cover the period of Nov. 16, 2010, to Nov. 15, 2011. It will include a 2% increase in minimum program fees, including background actors, and a 0.5% increase in employer contributions to the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds – effective Jan. 1, 2011 and specifically devoted to the Retirement Fund – which will bring the total Network Code contribution rate to 15.6%. Terms covering Network Code programs made-for and reused in new media will also be extended for one year and will remain unchanged. The National Board approved sending out the extension for ratification by membership meetings in the five major AFTRA Locals of Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington/Baltimore. Those meetings will occur in the coming weeks.
“This extension accomplishes three important goals for AFTRA members,” said AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon. “It secures critical increases in minimums and health and retirement benefits in the middle of a tough economy. It moves this contract out of our heavy 2010 negotiating cycle so we can conduct attentive Network Code wages and working conditions in mid-2011. It permits AFTRA members and staff to devote our resources to preparing for the upcoming joint negotiations with Screen Actors Guild on the AFTRA Exhibit A and SAG TV/Theatrical contracts. I applaud the Steering Committee and the National Board for their tenacity, vision and impressive show of union solidarity.”
The AFTRA Network Television Code covers programming in all television day parts, except for primetime dramatic programs on the networks. AFTRA members who work under this contract provide the talent that fuels more than 70% of the hours programmed by the major networks. It includes dramas in first-run syndication, morning news shows, midday talk and dramatic serials, primetime variety, reality, contest, sports and late night talk shows. Current programs covered by this contract include “Good Morning America,” “The View,” “The Price is Right,” “Days of Our Lives,” “Saturday Night Live,” “Dancing with the Stars,” “American Idol,” “Survivor,” “20/20,” “Deal or No Deal,” “Late Show with David Letterman,” among many others.
Terms for scripted network primetime programming are covered by Exhibit A of the AFTRA Network Code and will be negotiated separately with the industry in joint negotiations with Screen Actors Guild scheduled to begin on Sept. 27, 2010. Nationwide joint wages & working conditions meetings will commence this summer in preparation for negotiation of the AFTRA Exhibit A and SAG TV/Theatrical contracts which expire on June 30, 2011.
Additionally, AFTRA members are currently engaged in negotiations with ABC on a successor agreement to AFTRA’s ABC Network Staff Newspersons Agreement, which began May 1, 2010. The union is also preparing for negotiations on a new AFTRA Sound Recordings Code, which is scheduled to begin on June 16, 2010.
The National Board will resume and conclude its meeting tomorrow, Saturday, June 12.
About AFTRA
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, journalists, singers, dancers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audiobooks, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet and other digital media. The 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists of AFTRA are working together to protect and improve their jobs, lives, and communities in the 21st century. From new art forms to new technology, AFTRA members embrace change in their work and craft to enhance American culture and society. Visit AFTRA online at www.aftra.com.
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The cost of joining SAG can be a major hinderance for actors who want to join. Most actors do not have an abundance of money lying around. To join SAG, a performer must pay an initiation fee of $2,277, plus the first semi-annual basic dues payment of $58. Thus, the total fee to join is $2,335.
All joining fees are payable in full, in cashier's check, money order, Visa or Mastercard at the time of application. NO PERSONAL CHECKS are accepted for joining fees. |
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The cost of joining AFTRA can be a major hinderance for actors who want to join. Most actors do not have an abundance of money lying around. To join AFTRA new members must complete an application and pay a one-time initiation fee and dues for the current dues period. The initiation fee is $1,600 and, as of November 1, 2004, minimum dues are $63.90.
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What to do?
There has been a lot of talk about the Acting Guide because it really does offer what any actor needs in order to succeed. In order to be more succesful than everyone else you must be willing to domore than everyone else. The samll investment for the acting guide will pay for itself and show you how to get the money to join. |
How the acting guide helps you join and pay for AFTRA:
• Provides the pros and cons to joining AFTRA
• Simple money saving ideas to lower your budget
• Money making ideas to pay dues
• Proven Marketing plan to succeed as non-union and as union
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