Sag-Aftra National Collective Bargaining Agreement

The Screen Actors Guild‐American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is a labor union representing more than 160,000 professionals in the entertainment industry. It was created in 2012 after a merger between the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

One of the most significant tasks for SAG-AFTRA is negotiating the National Collective Bargaining Agreement (NCBA) on behalf of its members. This agreement sets the terms and conditions of employment for performers who work in film and television, including wages, health and pension benefits, and working conditions.

The most recent NCBA was negotiated in 2017 and covers a three-year period from 2017 to 2020. The agreement includes increases in minimum salaries for performers, improved residuals and pension contributions, and stronger protections for background actors.

One of the most significant wins for performers in the 2017 NCBA was the inclusion of a new provision requiring producers to provide a sexual harassment hotline for their cast and crew. This provision was added in response to the growing #MeToo movement, which highlighted the prevalence of sexual harassment in the entertainment industry.

Another notable change in the 2017 NCBA was the creation of a new category of low-budget streaming productions. These productions, which have a budget of less than $700,000 and are distributed by streaming services, are now subject to a separate agreement that provides lower wages and residuals but also allows for more flexibility in scheduling and working conditions.

SAG-AFTRA is currently negotiating the next NCBA, which will cover the period from 2020 to 2023. The negotiations are expected to focus on issues such as new media, residuals, and diversity and inclusion.

Performers who are members of SAG-AFTRA rely on the NCBA to ensure they are paid fairly and have access to benefits such as health care and retirement savings. The hard work of the union negotiating team ensures that performers’ voices are heard and their interests are represented in negotiations.