AFTRA-SAG Members Approve Two-Year Commercial Contract Extension

After SAG and AFTRA's boards approved a two-year extension to their commercials contracts, including a 6% pay increase, higher contributions by employers to pension and health plans, acknowledgement that unions have jurisdiction over advertising in new media, and creation of a joint union-advertiser committee to oversee and, if necessary, modify the deal, last month (NET NEWS 8/29), the two groups' rank and file members have voted overwhelmingly in favor of approving the deal.

The memberships of AFTRA and SAG voted 95.8% in favor of the agreement. Approximately 125,000 members of the unions received ballots, of which 21% returned them. The pact with the ASSOCIATION OF NATIONAL ADVERTISERS and the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ADVERTISING AGENCIES goes into effect OCTOBER 30, 2006, and will remain in force until OCTOBER 29, 2008.

AFTRA President JOHN CONNOLLY said, "The overwhelming support for this extension to the commercials contracts is a victory for the entire industry -- performers and advertisers alike. In exchange for express recognition of jurisdiction and increased wages and benefits, AFTRA will now work in partnership with our sister union and the advertising industry to analyze the rapidly evolving media environment. This agreement will increase job opportunities for professional performers in every corner of traditional and new media."

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