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SAG-AFTRA approves new animation contract through 2020

As animation and voiceover work becomes ever more commonplace among mainstream TV and movie fare, it’s more necessary to work out fair labor contracts.

SAG-AFTRA members overwhelmingly voted earlier this month on a new deal. Results announced this week revealed 95 percent yes votes, 5 percent in the minority voting no.

This was a very important negotiation for our members who work on television animation projects due to the expansive growth of streaming media. It was imperative that we ensure our members receive compensation that reflects an evolving business model. With approval of these agreements, members will continue to be fairly compensated for the work they do,” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris.

There are two deals from 2014 that needed updating, one for TV and one for movies. Negotiations took about a year to complete the updates.

FROM SAG-AFTRA: Highlights of the TV Animation Agreements include:

  • Wage increases and benefit contribution rate improvements on par with the gains achieved in live action negotiations
  • A 2.5 percent increase to minimums and .5 percent increase in the contribution rate to the SAG-Producers Pension Plan and AFTRA Retirement Fund effective Sept. 16, 2018
  • A further 2.5 percent increase to minimums and .5 percent increase in the contribution rate to the SAG-Producers Pension Plan and AFTRA Retirement Fund effective Jan. 1, 2019
  • A further 3 percent increase to minimums effective July 1, 2019, with the option to redirect .5 percent of that increase to the contribution rate to the SAG-Producers Pension Plan and AFTRA Retirement Fund
  • The improved terms and conditions that were negotiated in 2017 for live action programs produced for subscription-based streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon and Hulu will apply to animated programs produced for those platforms with some modifications

The TV Animation Agreements cover animated programs produced for television, including network television, basic cable and streaming platforms such as Hulu, Netflix and Amazon Prime. The new deal will continue through June 30, 2020.

Sean L. McCarthy

Editor and publisher since 2007, when he was named New York's Funniest Reporter. Former newspaper reporter at the New York Daily News, Boston Herald and smaller dailies and community papers across America. Loves comedy so much he founded this site.

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