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Some days, it’s good to be a 2nd assistant director for commercials. The DGA announced Monday the national board approval of a tentative new national commercial contract with the AICP, and included in it is a 15.8% raise for the category. Other positions will see a standard 2% increase for each year of the three-year pact, as well as a 17.65% increase in employer contributions to the health plan, and additional contributions for directors. The agreement also gives commercial producers more flexibility on hiring for spots shot outside the U.S. and Canada, while maintaining existing employment opportunities for 1st ADs.
Talks with the AICP on the pact spanned over three separate periods during the past few months, led by associate national executive director/Eastern executive director Russ Hollander and a negotiations committee made up of DGA members. While negotiations were completed in September, with a Memo of Agreement signed earlier this month, the guild’s national board didn’t have an opportunity to vote on it until its regularly scheduled board meeting last Saturday. The board unanimously opted to send it on to membership for a ratification vote, which is expected to pass.
“Commercials represent one of the steadiest areas of work for our members, and we are pleased that the new agreement will keep our members working, secure their healthcare benefits and allow producers the flexibility they need to keep this industry vibrant and competitive,” said Hollander.
“We entered
into negotiations realizing that in this changing world there are challenges to the memberships of both the AICP and DGA,” said Matt Miller, president and CEO of the AICP who acted as chief negotiator for the association’s labor committee. “Together we were able, through frank discussions, to reach an agreement that helps us each address issues that will benefit our mutual constituencies and in turn the industry as a whole.”
Ratification packages are expected to be sent to members this week, and due back sometime before the end of the year, according to the guild. With the term of the agreement beginning December 1, retroactive increases may be necessitated.
