After conclusion of the 2013 Commercials Contracts negotiations and subsequent ratification, several issues came under review by the JPC and SAG-AFTRA that warranted further discussion and clarification.

(Those issues were previously outlined in 4A’s Bulletin # 7545JPC, dated 8/6/13.)

The JPC and SAG-AFTRA have reached final agreement on these outstanding items. Download a copy of the joint JPC/SAG-AFTRA memorandum for further information.
Continue Reading SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract – Clarifications

On March 18, an arbitrator ordered a signatory to the SAG 2009 Commercials Contract — Talent Direct (“TD”) — to pay additional pension and health contributions to the SAG-Producers Pension and Health Plans (the “SAG Plans”) after allocating less than the amounts set forth in the Allocation Guidelines. This arbitration ruling is the first of its kind since the institution of the Allocation Guidelines in 2009.
Continue Reading Arbitrator Finds for SAG-AFTRA in Allocation Dispute: Signatory Ordered to Pay Additional Pension and Health Contributions to the SAG Plans

SAG-AFTRA and the Tribune Company have come to an agreement on residual payments to be made under the 2013 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract for commercials airing on Antenna TV and THIS TV.

The payment structure is the same as the terms applicable to payments for commercials aired on PAX/ION, BounceTV and MeTV.
Continue Reading SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract – Residual Payments for THIS TV and Antenna TV

Special provisions for payment for drivers who are employed to provide services for “running footage” or “wild footage” for motor vehicle commercials have been in existence since 1992.

Download an updated joint JPC/SAG-AFTRA bulletin, providing a recap of those provisions, which have been updated to reflect the current on-camera principal rate and the current number of extra zones.
Continue Reading SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract – Update on Running Footage: Drivers

The SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts mandate that all commercials produced under those Contracts for television, radio, Internet and New Media must use Ad-ID as the sole standard commercial identifier. The grace period to adopt Ad-ID ends on March 31, 2014.

Time to transition is running out. You must complete the transition fully before the deadline to avoid noncompliance. Some companies have asked the JPC what they should do to ensure that they are compliant.
Continue Reading JPC Reminder: Ad-ID Compliance – SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contracts – NLT 3-31-14

The collective bargaining agreement between the American Federation of Musicians (AFofM) and the advertising industry (as extended by the bargaining parties in 2012) will expire on February 14, 2014.

What needs to be done?

If your company is a Joint Policy Committee (JPC) authorizer, your company’s interests in this agreement will be represented by the JPC in negotiations with the AFofM; no further action is required.

If your company no longer wishes to be represented by the JPC in collective bargaining, you must withdraw your authorization from the JPC no later than December 14, 2013, by written notice to the JPC and a copy to the AFofM. Additionally, if you also wish to terminate your signatory status and adherence to the contract upon the expiration date, you must provide AFofM with sixty (60) days advance written notice of your desire to terminate the contract.
Continue Reading AFofM Agreements to Expire on February 14, 2014

This bulletin outlines several areas where the JPC disagrees with the Union’s interpretation of the 2013 Commercials Contract provisions. The JPC and the Union are working to resolve their differences. In the interim, please notify the JPC by emailing Stacy Marcus at smarcus@reedsmith.com in the event that you receive a claim from the Union regarding any of the issues outlined in the bulletin.
Continue Reading JPC Bulletin re SAG-AFTRA Interpretations of 2013 Commercials Contract Provisions