AFTRA, nets pact on successor contract

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists has reached a tentative three-year deal on a successor contract for its network code deal, covering non-primetime work with the four major television broadcast networks. Deal, announced Friday night, includes a 1% increase in employer contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement Funds to bring the total contribtion to to 16.5%. Negotiations began on Nov. 7. If ratified by the AFTRA members, the three-year agreement will run from Nov. 16, 2011 through Nov. 15, 2014. The ''net code,'' which was extended by a year in June 2010, is scheduled to expire on Nov. 15 but was extended on a day-to-day basis for the duration of negotiations. The net code is AFTRA's biggest contract and generates more than $250 million a year in member earnings and covers programming outside primetime drama and sitcoms including dramas in first-run syndication, morning news shows, talk shows, serials (soap operas), variety, reality, contest and sports. Current programs covered include: ''Good Morning America,'' ''The View,'' ''The Price is Right,'' ''General Hospital,'' ''Saturday Night Live,'' ''Dancing With the Stars,'' ''The Voice,'' ''Survivor,'' ''20/20,'' ''Deal or No Deal'' and ''Late Show with David Letterman.'' The Screen Actors Guild covers most primetime programs though AFTRA's been able to sign the lion's share of new series to AFTRA deals. AFTRA president Roberta Reardon chaired the 25-member negotiating committee and AFTRA national exec director Kim Roberts Hedgpeth will serve as chief negotiator. A press blackout had remained in effect for the duration of negotiations. AFTRA said Friday that the new deal increased wages by 6% over the term of the agreement (2% each year) for most categories. The 2% yearly hike in minimums has been standard for the successor deals signed by Hollywood unions in recent years. Other new provisions increase minimum hazard pay for dancers from $80 to $100 per day, and from $100 to $125 per program; the $37.50 overtime rate for Singers will be paid starting at the 7th instead of the 9th hour; iIncrease the minimum work day for stand-Ins who work on primetime variety and award shows, which will increase the minimum daily rate by 20% to 67%; and iImproved contract language to increase equal employment opportunities for union performers AFTRA said full details of the tentative agreement will be submitted for approval to the AFTRA National Board on Jan. 28. If the board approves, the deal will be sent out for ratification by the membership. AFTRA has about 70,000 members. Its leaders have been working on a merger plan with SAG leaders and have been aiming to present that plan next month for a possible vote by members in the spring. The networks also issued a statement: ''The tentative three-year agreement with AFTRA builds on the increases in benefit contributions made in last year's extension, further strengthening the pension and health benefit plans that are so crucial to performers and their families. Both sides worked diligently to reach a deal that is both fair and recognizes the pressures facing the production of television programs produced under this Code.'' Contact Dave McNary at dave.mcnary@variety.com