by Mike Hall, May 28, 2008

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) have tentatively agreed on a three-year contract covering prime-time television shows.

The tentative deal announced today includes wage increases, payments for work used on the Internet and other “new media,” increased employer contributions to the union’s health and retirement plans and other contract improvements.

AFTRA President Roberta Reardon says the pact achieves:

meaningful gains in compensation and working conditions for performers. It also establishes AFTRA jurisdiction in the dynamic area of New Media, and it preserves performers’ consent for use of excerpts of traditional TV shows in new media.

…This was a tough negotiation. Our ability to achieve these crucial breakthroughs for performers was a direct result of AFTRA members’ pragmatic approach to collective bargaining. We recognized the hard realities currently affecting the traditional TV business, and we focused on creating a framework that would allow union members to participate fully in the emerging new media marketplace.

AFTRA’s National Board still must approve the tentative deal at a meeting scheduled for June 6 in Los Angeles. If it does, the contract goes to the membership for ratification.

Negotiations between the Screen Actors (SAG) and the AMPTP resumed today. The producers broke off those talks earlier in May.

Says Reardon:

We appreciate the support we received from the Hollywood labor community, and we wish our brothers and sisters in the Screen Actors Guild the very best as they resume their own contract talks.

Earlier this year, the Writers Guild and the producers reached a new contract following a three-month strike.

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