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SAG-AFTRA National Board Overwhelmingly Approves Commercials Contracts Deal
SAG-AFTRA's National Board overwhelmingly approved 2025's Commercials Contracts tentative agreements reached with the Joint Policy Committee April 12.
The decision, made at the regularly scheduled, two-day, in-person assembly, yielded a deal valued at an increase of $218.4 million in new earnings and benefit plan contributions over three years. “A huge congratulations goes out to the Commercials Contracts negotiating committee for their diligent work in this agreement which is an important step forward for protecting the stability of performers’ livelihoods during this time of major technological upheavals in the ad industry,” SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher said in a statement. Other highlights from the deal include the following: performers’ data can’t be used to train artificial intelligence without consent; performer consent is required before any digital replica is created; use of a digital replica to generate a performance requires informed consent and triggers a 1.5x session fee plus applicable holding and use fees; provisions that ensure a level playing field in generative AI and remove economic advantages to the use of synthetic performers; the total pension and health contribution rate is raised from 20.5% to 23.5%, subject to a waiver reduction for JPC authorizers to 19.95%; an initiative to develop an automated commercial use monitoring service; created a new extra zone and preference of employment for Austin, Texas; disability accommodation(s) must be offered, in writing, at the time of engagement; dramatic improvements in protections for minor performers; late fee penalties have been strengthened and streamlined; per diems are required to be paid on the first day of work and/or travel; dancers who are asked to lip-synch now earn an extra 25% of session; singer wage increases for non-air demos; a brand new digital structure in the Audio Commercials Contract.
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