World Courant
As SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher took to Instagram Thursday evening to thank George Clooney and different A-list actors for his or her “extraordinarily beneficiant” proposal which they hoped would assist finish the present deadlock between the guild and the studios, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating The committee additionally addressed the provide in a letter to the membership Thursday.
Equally to Drescher’s video, the negotiating committee’s letter expressed gratitude to the highest actors for his or her donations in addition to their “options, specifically with regard to our streaming sharing proposal and the AMPTP’s characterization that we’re asking for an excessive amount of.”
The star-studded group had proposed to take away the cap on dues that might herald $150M extra over the following three years from the best incomes guild members and to regulate the mechanism of residual distribution.
“This beneficiant idea is worthy of consideration, however it’s under no circumstances associated to and would don’t have any bearing on this current contract and even as a topic of collective bargaining. It’s, the truth is, prohibited by Federal labor legislation,” the negotiating committee’s letter mentioned. “For instance, our Pension and Well being plans are funded solely from employer contributions. It additionally would not communicate to the dimensions of the general package deal. Having mentioned that, their creativity and earnest need to assist remedy the deadlock are very a lot appreciated.”
The letter went on to recap the evolution of SAG-AFTRA’s income sharing plan till the key media firm CEO’s walked away from the negotiations final week and harassed that it is only one piece of the general package deal proposal, calling out the studios for persevering with “to refuse to counter lots of our completely very important proposals together with the minimal wage charges.”
Noting that the SAG-AFTRA strike is nearing the 100-day mark, the committee addressed the businesses immediately.
“AMPTP, it is time to negotiate genuinely, valuing our contributions and solidifying an trade that champions everybody inside it. We sponsored the expansion of the streaming mannequin with decreased charges and low to non-existent residuals. It is time to share within the success we have helped construct.”
Right here is the total letter:
Expensive SAG-AFTRA members,
On this time of adversity and hardship, our unwavering solidarity, together with that of our sister union members, is really inspiring. For 98 days, we have stood sturdy, united in our pursuit of justice, equity, and the worth we carry to the trade. The WGA triumphed after 148 hard-fought days, proof that perseverance will break the hardest boundaries and outcome within the transformative change we have to justify everybody’s sacrifices.
The AMPTP continues to try to sow division amongst us, misrepresenting our proposals and making an attempt to govern public sentiment. But, at the same time as they walked away, all of us remained steadfast, refusing to be swayed by something lower than what we rightfully deserve.
We’re grateful that a number of of our most profitable members have engaged to supply concepts and assist. Past donating extraordinary sums of cash to the SAG-AFTRA Basis in assist of members in the course of the strike, these influential people have sought to supply options, specifically with regard to our streaming sharing proposal and the AMPTP’s characterization that we’re asking for an excessive amount of. They’ve contemplated growing the sum of money that the best earners contribute to the union by way of elevating their dues.
This beneficiant idea is worthy of consideration, however it’s under no circumstances associated to and would don’t have any bearing on this current contract and even as a topic of collective bargaining. It’s, the truth is, prohibited by Federal labor legislation. For instance, our Pension and Well being plans are funded solely from employer contributions. It additionally would not communicate to the dimensions of the general package deal.
Having mentioned that, their creativity and earnest need to assist remedy the deadlock are very a lot appreciated. It’s value noting that the union has a really sturdy course of to incorporate the considerations of each member.
The truth that the heads of the networks, streaming firms and studios are open to speaking with them immediately is nice. However, the executives shouldn’t for one second suppose that they will use the nice will of member emissaries to distract us from our mission.
We aren’t asking for an excessive amount of. As a trustworthy bargaining associate, and understanding their acknowledged considerations with our 2% income/subscription sharing proposal, we made a calculated adjustment. After a number of, seemingly constructive classes, we pivoted from the plan we fastidiously and responsibly developed over the previous yr and dropped our ask to 1%. We did so, by restructuring our proposal, tailoring it to handle their considerations. They responded by strolling out and calling us grasping.
Our income/subscription sharing mannequin is just one piece of our general proposal package deal. The AMPTP continues to refuse to counter lots of our completely very important proposals together with the minimal wage charges that our membership is on strike to attain.
So, for now, we encourage all members to champion our full proposal package deal and get out on the picket line. All through the course of this strike, increased profile members have marched and spoken loudly in favor of the Negotiating Committee securing a worthy deal. In that, we’re united.
To our fearless strike captains, your resilience is awe-inspiring. The members of the Negotiating Committee have been honored to hitch you this week on the strains to point out our appreciation. Your contributions are important to the success of this strike. With every day, we develop nearer to creating a movie and tv trade the place expertise can thrive sustainably.
To our trade siblings – AFM, DGA, IATSE, WGA, Teamsters and the Fundamental Crafts – thanks for standing beside us, a testomony to the unwavering bond of unionism, even within the face of shared hardships. We is not going to overlook nor abandon you when it is your flip on the desk.
Let’s be clear: Our name is easy. AMPTP, it is time to negotiate genuinely, valuing our contributions and solidifying an trade that champions everybody inside it. We sponsored the expansion of the streaming mannequin with decreased charges and low to non-existent residuals. It is time to share within the success we have helped construct.
Simply because the WGA weathered the storm, so we could. Let’s draw energy from one another and belief that our unity will lead us to the contract we deserve.
Sooner or later longer. Sooner or later stronger. Neither lengthy nor it takes.
With love and in solidarity,
Your SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee
