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AFTRA Members Overwhelmingly Ratify Network Code with a 96%
"YES" Vote
January 10, 2005
This major AFTRA contract covers performers on daytime dramatic
serials, late night entertainment programs, sports, game, talk and
award shows, syndicated programs and other AFTRA TV shows with the
exception of prime time dramatic programs. The talks covering prime
time dramatic programming, conducted jointly with the Screen Actors
Guild, are on hiatus during the holidays and set to resume January
5, 2005, in Los Angeles.
The new three-year pact, effective November 16, 2004, will remain in
full force until November 15, 2007. AFTRA and industry negotiators
reached agreement on Friday, October 29, 2004, after three weeks of
bargaining in New York.
Consistent with deals achieved by other Industry unions, the newly
ratified agreement includes significant increases in employer
contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement Plans (H&R
Plans). The combination of higher employer contribution rates,
increased earnings caps and the reallocation of supplemental pension
contributions is expected to yield a 25% increase in dollars flowing
into the AFTRA H&R Plans during the life of the agreement.
Providing additional resources to the benefit plans was the
union’s number one priority at the table. In addition, the
agreement contains:
· Increases in program fees across the board;
· Expansion of coverage for Stunt Coordinators and Choreographers;
and
· Additional protections for serial performers at the end of their
contract cycles.
“As we move into the New Year, with our flagship Net Code
television negotiation completed achieving impressive gains, and now
well into bargaining on our primetime contract, AFTRA can take real
pride in the accomplishments of the last year. What we cannot do,
however, is rest, if we are to meet the complex and multiplying
challenges faced by our union and our members. As well as
successfully bargaining contracts, AFTRA must also stand up for the
rights of our broadcast journalists and performers in an
increasingly restrictive and hostile legal and regulatory
environment, advocate for comprehensive health care reform in the
face of the worsening crisis in health care affordability and
finance, and organize programming in Cable, Spanish Language and
other arenas where employers continue to undercut industry standards
of fairness and equity. We must also continue our campaign to
challenge the monopoly power of corporate media in defense of
diversity of ideas and images and the American People's right to
news honestly reported without fear or favor. In order to get the
job done, our focus in 2005 must be on coalition building and
working collaboratively and effectively within the labor movement,
within our communities nationwide and internationally and within our
own diverse membership of performers and broadcasters throughout the
country,” stated AFTRA’s National President John Connolly.
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists --
affiliated with the AFL-CIO -- is a diverse union representing
nearly 80,000 professional broadcasters and performers nationwide
working in news and entertainment programming on television and
radio as well as in the sound recording industry, commercials and
industrial work, and newer technologies such as interactive games,
Internet production and CD ROMs.
Contact:
Rebecca Rhine
rrhine@aftra.com
(415) 713-8301
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