As SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher took to Instagram Thursday evening to thank George Clooney and different A-list actors for his or her “extremely generous” proposal which they hoped would assist finish the present deadlock between the guild and the studios, the SAG-AFTRA negotiating committee additionally addressed the provide in a letter to the membership Thursday.
Similarly to Drescher’s video, the negotiating committee’s letter expressed gratitude to the highest actors for his or her donations as effectively their “suggestions, in particular with regard to our streaming sharing proposal and the AMPTP‘s characterization that we are asking for too much.”
The star-studded group had proposed to take away the cap on dues that might herald $150M extra over the subsequent three years from the very best incomes guild members and to regulate the mechanism of residual distribution.
“This generous concept is worthy of consideration, but it is in no way related to and would have no bearing on this present contract or even as a subject of collective bargaining. It is, in fact, prohibited by Federal labor law,” the negotiating committee’s letter stated. “For example, our Pension and Health plans are funded exclusively from employer contributions. It also doesn’t speak to the scale of the overall package. Having said that, their creativity and earnest desire to help solve the impasse are very much appreciated.”
The letter went on to recap the evolution of SAG-AFTRA’s income sharing plan till the foremost media firm CEO’s walked away from the negotiations final week and careworn that it is only one piece of the general bundle proposal, calling out the studios for persevering with “to refuse to counter many of our absolutely vital proposals including the minimum wage rates.”
Noting that the SAG-AFTRA strike is nearing the 100-day mark, the committee addressed the businesses instantly.
“AMPTP, it’s time to negotiate genuinely, valuing our contributions and solidifying an industry that champions everyone within it. We subsidized the growth of the streaming model with reduced rates and low to non-existent residuals. It’s time to share in the success we’ve helped build.”
Here is the complete letter:
Dear SAG-AFTRA members,
In this time of adversity and hardship, our unwavering solidarity, together with that of our sister union members, is actually inspiring. For 98 days, we’ve stood robust, united in our pursuit of justice, equity, and the worth we deliver to the business. The WGA triumphed after 148 hard-fought days, proof that perseverance will break the hardest limitations and outcome within the transformative change we have to justify everybody’s sacrifices.
The AMPTP continues to aim to sow division amongst us, misrepresenting our proposals and making an attempt to govern public sentiment. Yet, 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 couple of of our most profitable members have engaged to supply concepts and help. Beyond donating extraordinary sums of cash to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation in help of members through the strike, these influential people have sought to supply recommendations, particularly with regard to our streaming sharing proposal and the AMPTP’s characterization that we’re asking for an excessive amount of. They have contemplated growing the sum of money that the very best earners contribute to the union by way of elevating their dues.
This beneficiant idea is worthy of consideration, however it’s by no means associated to and would haven’t any bearing on this current contract and even as a topic of collective bargaining. It is, actually, prohibited by Federal labor legislation. For instance, our Pension and Health plans are funded solely from employer contributions. It additionally doesn’t communicate to the size of the general bundle.
Having stated that, their creativity and earnest want to assist clear up the deadlock are very a lot appreciated. It is price noting that the union has a really strong course of to incorporate the considerations of each member.
The incontrovertible fact that the heads of the networks, streaming corporations and studios are open to speaking with them instantly is nice. But, the executives mustn’t for one second suppose that they’ll use the nice will of member emissaries to distract us from our mission.
We aren’t asking for an excessive amount of. As a devoted bargaining accomplice, and understanding their acknowledged considerations with our 2% income/subscription sharing proposal, we made a calculated adjustment. After a number of, seemingly constructive periods, we pivoted from the plan we rigorously and responsibly developed over the previous 12 months 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 total proposal bundle. The AMPTP continues to refuse to counter a lot of our completely important proposals together with the minimal wage charges that our membership are on strike to attain.
So, for now, we encourage all members to champion our full proposal bundle and get out on the picket line. Throughout 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 had been honored to affix you this week on the traces to indicate our appreciation. Your contributions are important to the success of this strike. With every day, we develop nearer to creating a movie and tv business the place expertise can thrive sustainably.
To our business siblings – AFM, DGA, IATSE, WGA, Teamsters and the Basic Crafts – thanks for standing beside us, a testomony to the unwavering bond of unionism, even within the face of shared hardships. We won’t neglect nor abandon you when it’s your flip on the desk.
Let’s be clear: Our name is easy. AMPTP, it’s time to barter genuinely, valuing our contributions and solidifying an business that champions everybody inside it. We backed the expansion of the streaming mannequin with diminished charges and low to non-existent residuals. It’s time to share within the success we’ve helped construct.
Just because the WGA weathered the storm, so we could. Let’s draw energy from each other and belief that our unity will lead us to the contract we deserve.
One day longer. One day stronger. As lengthy because it takes.
With love and in solidarity,
Your SAG-AFTRA TV/Theatrical Negotiating Committee
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