SAG, AFTRA, AMPTP reach tentative agreement!

[dailymotion]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa2rw4_no-strike-so-far_shortfilms[/dailymotion]

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SAG, AFTRA, and AMPTP reach a deal. Looks like a strike has be diverted!!

The tentative agreement withe the Producers is for a new 3 year contract for film and primetime TV.

Key gains include a 2% annual wage increase and a 10% hike in employer contributions to the pension and health plans, which boosts the overall figure to 16.5% — which the unions touted as the largest gain in two decades. If ratified by the unions’ boards and members, the deal will go into effect on July 1.

The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists made the joint announcement early Sunday morning, following six weeks of negotiations that had taken place under a news blackout at the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers headquarters in Sherman Oaks.

A possible strike has been one of the hottest topics in the entertainment industry over the past year.

Let’s keep an eye on this. With no permanent agreement, the current SAG and AFTRA master contracts, which were negotiated separately for the first time in 3 decades, both expire June 30th, 2011.

Neutral reporting on this Hot Topic requires links to all sides of the issue:

  • The Screen Actors Guild website, for SAG’s position.
  • The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers website for AMPTP’s position.

And, links to these commentators, opinions, and blogs for varied reactions:

  • The blog of entertainment lawyer, Jonathan Handel, specializing in Digital Media Law, Jonathan has been appointed as an Adjunct Professor at UCLA School of Law. He teaches a course on entertainment unions and guilds. He will continue as of counsel at TroyGould.
  • Wikipedia (yes, it also has a SAG update page)

The industry seemed to be holding its breath. Finally, we can exhale; at least for a moment.

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