The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is a labor union representing over 160,000 performers in the entertainment industry. SAG-AFTRA negotiates agreements on behalf of its members to ensure fair wages and working conditions in film, television, commercials, and new media.

In March of 2017, SAG-AFTRA reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on a new three-year contract covering television series and new media productions.

The agreement increased wages by 2.5% in the first year, 3% in the second year, and 3% in the third year. In addition, performers will receive a 0.5% increase in employer-paid health contributions in each year of the agreement.

The agreement also included important improvements in residual payments for new media productions, which have become a growing source of employment for SAG-AFTRA members. Previously, performers received only a one-time payment for their work in new media productions. Under the new agreement, the residual structure for high-budget new media productions will be the same as that for traditional television series.

Other highlights of the agreement include:

– Increased funding for the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan

– An increase in the required minimum rates for dancers

– Improved travel provisions for performers working on location

– Improved intellectual property protections for performers

SAG-AFTRA members approved the agreement by an overwhelming margin in April of 2017.

The 2017 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement represents an important victory for performers in the entertainment industry, ensuring that they receive fair pay and benefits for their work in an increasingly competitive and rapidly evolving market. The agreement demonstrates the ongoing strength and relevance of SAG-AFTRA in the entertainment industry and its commitment to protecting the rights of its members.