MUST READ
SAG-AFTRA members easily ratify new contract after actors’ strike
Los Angeles Times
BY CHRISTI CARRAS
Dec. 5, 2023
Members of performers union SAG-AFTRA have voted in favor of the contract that ended the actors’ strike, following a weeks-long ratification period that saw a number of actors voice concerns about the new deal. The ratification vote, which was expected, marks the end of Hollywood’s extraordinary season of labor discontent that caused widespread disruptions across the film and TV industry.
JOINING TOGETHER
Hollywood actors union ratifies new contract with studios
CNN Business
By Ramishah Maruf and Elizabeth Wagmeister
Dec. 5, 2023
Members of SAG-AFTRA, the Hollywood actors union, have ratified a new contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents major studios and streamers, the union said on Tuesday. SAG-AFTRA members voted to ratify the contract with about 78% in favor. The union said about 38% of members turned out to vote. The agreement expires on June 30, 2026.
MSNBC union ratifies first contract after 2 years of negotiations
Editor & Publisher
By Lucas Manfredi
Dec. 5, 2023
Nearly 300 Writers Guild of America East members at MSNBC have overwhelmingly ratified their first collective bargaining agreement after over two years of negotiations. The contract includes minimum salaries for all titles, with significant pay increases for all production assistants and most associate producers, a guaranteed minimum 3% pay increase on March 1 every year for the next three years, and a ratification bonus that amounts to 2% of members’ current annual salaries.
Morgan State and employees’ union tentatively agree to contract, nearly finalizing negotiations
The Baltimore Sun
By Dan Belson
Dec. 5, 2023
Both Morgan State University and the unit representing nearly 400 of the institution’s employees have tentatively agreed on a contract they have been negotiating since 2020, the union confirmed Tuesday. The final contract – set to last until July of 2026 – will grant workers a flat dollar amount increase to their salaries, which will also receive a percentage increase based on years of service, according to the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Council 3, which oversees nearly 45,000 public service workers in Maryland including the local representing Morgan State staff. The new contract still must be formally ratified, but it would also enhance provisions related to safety, such as providing personal protective equipment and putting in place air quality protections for workers.
Atlantic City Electric and IBEW Local 210 ratify contract agreement
CBS News
By Jessica Macaulay
Dec. 5, 2023
Atlantic City Electric and IBEW Local 210 ratified their new contract agreement on Tuesday. The electric company first reached the tentative agreement with union workers over the weekend. Atlantic City Electric shared a statement about the ratification on their X account Tuesday afternoon.
Actors Ratify Deal With Hollywood Studios, With Reservations
The New York Times
By Brooks Barnes
Dec. 5, 2023
Actors voted to approve a new three-year contract with studios although some union members remained dissatisfied with the deal’s artificial intelligence protections. The ratification formally ended six months of labor unrest in the entertainment industry. SAG-AFTRA, as the actors’ union is known, said on Tuesday that more than 50,000 members submitted ballots during the three-week voting period. The contract was ratified with 78 percent of the vote, easily clearing the required threshold of a simple majority.
SAG-AFTRA Members Vote to Ratify Strike-Ending Contract
The Hollywood Reporter
By Katie Kilkenny
Dec. t, 2023
SAG-AFTRA members have voted to ratify the tentative deal that brought an end to the 118-day actors’ strike. In a contest that ended on Tuesday evening, 78.33 percent voted “yes” on the contract and 21.67 percent voted “no,” with a turnout of 38.15 percent. With members greenlighting the deal, the new agreement will now take effect retroactive to June 9, and will extend to June 30, 2026. “This contract is an enormous victory for working performers, and it marks the dawning of a new era for the industry. Getting to this point was truly a collective effort,” union president Fran Drescher and national executive director Duncan Crabtree Ireland said in a joint statement to members on Tuesday night.
IN THE STATES
Berry Craig honored at AFL-CIO convention
Forward KY
By Bruce Maples
Dec. 5, 2023
Forward Kentucky contributor Berry Craig has another hat he wears (among many): the webmaster for the KY AFL-CIO website. And last night, at this year’s convention, he was given a special award for that work. The award was presented by Bill Londrigan, outgoing president of KY AFL-CIO, and was followed by a standing ovation for Berry from everyone at the dinner. Congrats to Berry for being honored – it is long overdue and well-deserved.