BBH abandoned its union contract in September, asserting that the agreement is outdated and accusing SAG-AFTRA of being inflexible. SAG-AFTRA told its members not to work for BBH, which has produced commercials for Audi, Absolut, Ikea, Samsung, and Virgin Media, and held more than two dozen protests. A recent rally at the La Brea Tar Pits in Los Angeles drew nearly 1,000 members.
“We are getting this level of support because of the momentum of the campaign against BBH reneging on its contract,” said SAG-AFTRA national executive director David White. “We’ve made certain that the members and their representatives have seen and heard that message and it is resonating. Members are coming together to support the union and each other.”
SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris told Variety, “The response that we’ve gotten from our members to the BBH campaign has been excellent. What they’re saying to the company is ‘You don’t get to cherrypick what spots you shoot if you have a contract with us. We fought hard for these rights and you’re not going to take them away.’”
SAG-AFTRA will begin commercials contract negotiations with the advertising industry on Feb. 20 in New York City, six weeks ahead of the March 31 expiration of the current three-year deal. The union’s negotiating committee will be chaired by Carteris and White will serve as chief negotiator.
SAG-AFTRA leaders have hammered out the proposal through a required series of member meetings in recent months. The union, which represents about 160,000 performers, is giving no details on the proposal, asserting that “as a matter of longstanding union practice and has instituted a mutually agreed upon news blackout with the industry.” The contract covers about $1 billion in annual revenues for performers.
As reported by Variety.com….
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”.- Charles Dickens
You know, coming from indie to the glow up you see a lot fall to the way side. Many days in our prime everything was SAG this SAG that, now as a manager I told my sole client Frankito Arias, that shit is for the rich people not people coming from the hood like us. That was back in 2011. But I grew up. Unions protect and create the environment that enriches our platforms to earn money for our creative endeavors. Remembering that art IS ALWAYS FREE. When I walk around Hollywood and/or Brooklyn Im reminded by the murals in your neighborhood of the dead…. its honorable, it’s an homage. Creative artists work harder than any breed to survive. This is where the term starving artist derives from. We put the price tag to ensure safety.
