The Joint Policy Committee, LLC (“JPC”) reached an agreement with the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (“SAG-AFTRA”) on the 2019 Commercials Contract and Audio Commercials Contract on April 2, 2019. The deal, led by Reed Smith partner and Chief Negotiator, Stacy Marcus, now moves into its next stages and will be … Continue Reading
From time to time it’s good to keep in mind specific network guidelines when producing public service announcements. According to network standards, public service announcements (PSAs) are meant to inform the public of the work of charitable, governmental, and non-profit organizations and other services available to the public. Such announcements must reflect the true nature … Continue Reading
Beginning today, October 27, 2017, Producers can take advantage of the new Commercials Low Budget Digital Waiver. SAG-AFTRA and the ANA-4A’s Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC) worked together to negotiate this waiver for low budget digital productions, recognizing the parties’ focus on the growth of digital advertising. The waiver applies to … Continue Reading
To access the 2016 SAG-AFTRA Memoranda of Agreement and Drafting Agreements, please visit the ANA-4A’s Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations’ website: jointpolicycommittee.org.… Continue Reading
On April 3, 2016, SAG-AFTRA and the ANA-4A’s Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations reached tentative agreement on successor Commercials Contracts. For more regarding the parties’ agreement, please visit the JPC’s website: jointpolicycommittee.org.… Continue Reading
We understand that some signatories to the Commercials Contracts received an information request from the Union. The JPC has discussed the request with the Union. It is our understanding that these requests are being sent to entities that are neither advertisers nor advertising agencies, and that the Union is looking to clarify what role such … Continue Reading
To address what it perceives as significant underfunding in its pension plan, the AFTRA Retirement Fund is actively sending information requests to Joint Policy Committee signatories whose contributions have declined over a three year period. The attached bulletin discusses the Fund’s rationale and efforts, and suggests potential defenses JPC signatories can use in refuting the … Continue Reading
The following documents outline the obligations of JPC Authorizers with respect to the upcoming SAG-AFTRA negotiations, and provide guidance for the prudent planning of productions. For further questions, please reach out to the authors of this post.… Continue Reading
At long last, the 2013 contracts are available. Although hard copies of the books are still being printed, the first digital versions of the Commercials Contract and Radio Recorded Commercials Contract are available. The digital documents will be updated with an index and reposted by the JPC and Union in the coming weeks.… Continue Reading
On June 5, 2014, the Joint Policy Committee on Broadcast Talent Union Relations (JPC) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) reached agreement on a new three-year collective bargaining agreement. Attached is the summary and MOA. The agreement is subject to ratification by AFM members.… Continue Reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
The ANA-4A's Joint Policy Committee (JPC) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFofM) have mutually agreed to an extension of the current Commercial Announcements Agreement through February 14, 2014.
All current rates, terms and provisions remain in effect through 2/14/14.… Continue Reading
Please be advised that the 2011-2014 SAG-AFTRA Corporate/Educational and Non-Broadcast Contracts, which were set to expire on April 30, 2014 have been extended one year through April 30, 2015. The terms of the current contracts will remain in effect through the extension period.… Continue Reading
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
On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, the ANA-4A's JPC will be conducting an in-person seminar in Boston to review the new provisions of the SAG-AFTRA 2013-2016 Commercials Contracts. This will be the last in the current series of regional JPC seminars regarding the new provisions. Stacy Marcus, Legal Counsel to the JPC will be leading the discussion. This seminar is open to all industry members and is geared to those industry professionals involved in paying actors under the collective bargaining agreements.… Continue Reading
For your immediate use, attached are the new SAG-AFTRA 2013 Commercials Contracts Exhibits/Contract Forms. The balance of the new Contracts' Exhibits/Forms will be updated and distributed as available.… Continue Reading
On Wednesday, July 10, 2013, the ANA-4A's JPC will be conducting an in-person seminar in Boston to review the new provisions of the SAG-AFTRA 2013-2016 Commercials Contracts. This will be the last in the current series of regional JPC seminars regarding the new provisions. Stacy Marcus, Legal Counsel to the JPC will be leading the discussion. This seminar is open to all industry members and is geared to those industry professionals involved in paying actors under the collective bargaining agreements.… Continue Reading
Please join the JPC in Chicago to review and explain the many changes to the SAG-AFTRA Commercial Agreements.
Stacy Marcus, Legal Counsel to the Joint Policy Committee, will be leading the discussion.… Continue Reading
