American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA)

Revised SAG 2009 TV Commercials and AFTRA 2009 RADIO Commercials rate charts are available.

These rate charts have been revised to reflect minor rounding corrections to the previously issued documents. You will also find some additional explanations/clarifications based on questions we have been receiving from members.

The AFTRA TV 2009 Rate Charts are identical to

On April 1, 2009, the advertising industry came to an agreement with the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists on a new three year collective bargaining agreement. Reed Smith partner, Douglas Wood, is the advertising industry’s lead negotiator in connection with those agreements. The unions ratified the deal on May 21, 2009. We have attached a number of memos that outline the new agreement and provide for answers to frequently asked questions, i.e.:

1. Executive Summary
2. FAQs
3. Notice in Industry re Commercial Services Fee
4. Memorandum on Commercial Services Fee

We welcome your review and comments.
Continue Reading SAG/AFTRA Developments

Effective April 1, 2009, the JPC negotiated a new three-year collective bargaining agreement with SAG and AFTRA for actors who perform in television and radio commercials.

It has come to our attention that some voice-over agents in Los Angeles continue to demand so-called "LA Scale" for radio commercials, a rate significantly above the scale rates

The JPC and the unions have agreed on the new rate charts. Remember that while you can now pay under those rates, should the new Contract not be ratified by the unions (expected within a month), you will have to seek refunds. If you prefer, you can pay under the old rates and issue a

Q: What timetable now applies to implementing the new Contract?

The new Contract began April 1, 2009, but is not officially approved until the SAG and AFTRA Boards and members vote favorably on its ratification. The union voting process should be completed by May 15, 2009. Since the new Contract was unanimously approved by the SAG and

As you are all aware, we’re approaching the "midnight hour" in our negotiations. While both sides have made major progress and I remain cautiously optimistic, the next couple of days will be critical to reaching a new agreement. In the meantime, there is no reason to believe that there will be any immediate disruption in

Yesterday, you may have read reports in the trades that SAG and AFTRA had prepared a strike authorization letter to send to their members and that talks were not going well. As reported by the unions, the release of the draft letter was unauthorized. In a joint statement from SAG and AFTRA, the unions stated

The Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Relations (JPC) is the multi-employer bargaining group that negotiates the collective bargaining agreements with the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists that govern the employment of actors who perform in television and radio commercials.  In its role, the JPC represents the interests