UFS on TV/TH & STREAMING
Unite for Strength, USAN, and Union Strong leaders from around the country have led the way to updating and modernizing our master Theatrical and TV contracts resulting in $1.5 Billion dollars of gains for members, since the MF-led contract negotiations debacle in 2008 (which resulted in $100 million dollars of losses to members).
Beginning in 2009 we started building a smart, data-driven, and focused strategy, using our growing leverage brought about through merger, to make gains in our contracts.
Up until then, the union had been focusing on the past, trying to build on old contracts without truly recognizing the need to peer forward into the future and stay on top of the exploding changes happening to the way people viewed entertainment.
From four networks and movies in the 1970s, the industry moved to (among others) multiple networks, hundreds of cable stations, digi-nets, streaming platforms, video-on-demand, apps, and movies being released in theaters and on streaming platforms concurrently.
Merger enabled us to combine the legacy SAG and AFTRA television contracts with existing cable contracts to create a master SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical agreement in 2014.
DATA AND STRATEGY DRIVEN
Educating and involving members who work these contracts is paramount to developing our focused strategies. Investing in your future by becoming involved and making your voice heard is fundamental to our belief that an educated member is an involved member.
The gains we have made are because we are working actors who live and work these contracts. Your concerns are our concerns, and we want to hear from all voices.
We urge you to attend Wages and Working conditions committee meetings—which are open meetings where members can share their thoughts on a particular contract—to make your voice heard.
EDUCATING AND INVOLVING MEMBERS
In 2019 SAG-AFTRA negotiated a separate standalone contract with Netflix—they are not part of the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers), with whom we negotiate our master TV/TH Collective Bargaining Agreement(CBA).
Improved terms in the Netflix agreement included:
- Establishing performance capture as covered work
- Affirmed coverage of dubbing, which applies to all of Netflix’s foreign-language
live-action and animated motion pictures dubbed into English.
- Gains in theatrical residuals
- Better terms for members subjected to options and exclusivity terms
- Improved overtime rules for stunt performers
- Protections for members regarding harassment and auditions.
This new contract has given us leverage to improve contract terms in the master CBA: by essentially allowing us to pit Netflix against the AMPTP (think: most major networks) in our separate negotiations.
For example, there are gains we achieved with Netflix, like those in dubbing, which have allowed us to improve dubbing terms and more importantly, coverage, with other production companies.
NETFLIX
It has been vital to bring streaming platforms into our contract, and exponentially grow those HBSVOD (High Budget Streaming Video On Demand) residual streams to ensure members receive proper compensation as platforms such as Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu continue to grow.
There are fundamentally two kinds of streaming –
1. move over: when a TV show changes platforms. For example, if Better Call Saul moves from AMC to Netflix, or a film starts streaming on Disney+ after a theatrical run. When this happens, there is a percentage of license fee residual attached to them, exactly like a network TV show moving to cable.
2. made for: when content is created by streaming services like Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, etc., and then remains on that same platform for the next several years. These have a fixed residual attached to them, which is similar to a network rerun.
Beginning in 2011, as the "made for" market grew, we started to expand that residual structure--from a license fee based residual in 2011 to a fixed residual in 2014 which was substantially increased in the 2017 contract. We separated foreign airings creating a brand new residual stream. Combined, the new domestic and foreign residual formulas resulted in a 300% increase in the first two years of streaming.
Then in 2020, we once again dramatically increased the fixed residual in both domestic and foreign streaming.
IMPROVING STREAMING RESIDUALS
The ever-changing industry continues to pose challenges, but we remain committed to strengthening contract enforcement, improving pay rates (especially in lower budget new media), and increasing residual streams.
Our team is specifically focused on the issues of work week hours, ending unfair options and exclusivity, expanding performance capture coverage, and is sensitive to the specific concerns of background and stunt performers.
Building a smart, focused and powerfully leveraged strategy to make gains in our contracts is the Unite for Strength, USAN and Union Strong focus and promise.
Titles used for identification purposes only.
THE FUTURE
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📱TV/TH & Streaming
You need contracts that work for the 21st Century. UFS is on the forefront of an ever evolving industry that changes almost by the minute; here's how.
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📺 Commercials
Negotiators. Organizers. Educators. We're working to ensure that opportunities are abundant and plentiful within this sector of the market.
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🦺 Safety
From the board room to the set, UFS has worked hard to ensure that SAFETY is a key priority in every avenue of your professional life.
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🧑🤝🧑 Diversity & Inclusion
UFS takes pride in having a slate that is representative of our members. We also fight for inclusion and equal rights. Learn more about where we stand on diversity.
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⚕️Healthcare
Learn about how UFS chose to "meet anger with action" by providing solutions during a grim reality instead of taking advantage of members during their weakest moment.
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🛑 Sexual Harassment
Times Up. Me Too. Four words that put our industry on notice. UFS listened, took note and made changes to ensure no member is ever taken advantage of again.
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🏛️ Legislative Victories
On the national scene, SAG-AFTRA is making its presence known. Learn more about how your union helped you in ways you may not have realized; from Hollywood to D.C.
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🎉 Member Support
A union is only as strong as its members. And its members are only as strong as they're educated. Learn what we're doing to make members as strong as possible.
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📋 Organizing
When members band together, anything is possible. We really value strength in unity. Learn about what we've accomplished when we decide to with each other.
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💸 Micro-Budget
There should never be any barrier to creating union work. This new agreement makes it easier for members to create union work.