Members of the Animation Guild voted to approve a new three-year contract between Studio and Streamer to establish a new hierarchy of animation writers and solidify their approach to remote work.
The guild announced on Tuesday that 87% of the members who participated in the process voted in favor of ratifying the agreement and 13% voted against the agreement. Voter turnout of members has tripled compared to the ratification vote of the previous agreement (Hollywood Reporter Asked what percentage of the total membership turned out to vote). Prior to the ratification vote, the guild emphasized the importance of turnout, and this engagement shows employers “how much they are investing in the negotiation process and contracts” and shows that turnout is low. I told you.[es] Our power as a unified organization. Guild members voted both digitally and by phone between June 20th and July 1st.
“This ratification vote shows that the members acknowledged the wonderful work of our Negotiation Subcommittee and devoted themselves to continuing the work. We have achieved significant profits, but everything we have set to achieve. We couldn’t reach our priorities and were worthy of our members, “said Steve Kaplan, TAG’s business representative, in a statement. “The locals have been devoted to open discussions about the involvement of members and how to achieve those goals. Members have united to approve this agreement and have a significant impact on us in the future. And agreed to support efforts to build our strength as a community … “
The changes to the new agreement address a wide range of issues. In terms of wages, like the counterparts covered by the IATSE Basic Agreement, members of the Animation Guild will receive a 3% minimum wage increase each year for the duration of the contract, and wages will be retroactive until August 1. The freelance unit price of the timer will be increased. The minimum wage for color designers will increase by 5% in the first year and almost 5% in the second and third years, but the minimum wage for color designers will exceed the increase in the guild’s overall minimum wage by 4-12%, depending on the role. It will be pulled up. The contract offers animated artists who have long and loud campaigns during negotiations to improve wages in new professions that offer a variety of professions that enable career advancement. Wages have risen for “Level 1”, “Level 2” and “Director” animation writers, while the new category of more junior “Associate” animation writers is low wages.
In addition, the guild has secured a new minimum wage for previously negotiable high-budget “new media” (often streaming) series. According to the guild, the new rate is “equal to the current rate minus 15%.”
Working from home is an important issue in this negotiation, and the guild has made some progress towards further enhancing the ability of its members to work outside the office. According to the guild, the new contract allows members hired in Los Angeles to work outside LA County or California with permission from their employer. In addition, the agreement guarantees the formation of a “labor-management cooperation committee” that meets at least twice a year, allowing discussions on labor issues that are not collective bargaining issues such as remote work.
In terms of profits, TAG, like other union counterparts, secured Martin Luther King. Junior day as a holiday. The contract also adds MPI hours to on-call employees, provides 60 hours a week, including when members are caring for a sick family or recovering from their medical problems. Change the parental leave policy of the contract.
Under the agreement, the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television (AMPTP) will represent studios and streamers in collective bargaining with the union and provide notice stating best practices for placing TAG members with years of industry experience in appropriate wage classification. Agreed to send to the employer. .. This transaction also gives TAG members sufficient time to complete the “skill assessments” used to make hiring and promotion decisions, and members when the decisions notified by these assessments are made. Form an “abuse review committee” to ensure that you respond to.
The guild said the union had agreed to “withdraw the pending complaints about Fox Animation Television, Inc.” in return for some of the benefits they had in the deal. Prior to ratification of the agreement, we waive “all known and unknown claims regarding the use of color designer classifications”. In addition, TAG states that it did not get everything it expected from timers and suggestions to color designers.