The 2015 Animation Guild Negotiating Committee
The Animation Guild reached agreement with the AMPTP at 11:00 p.m. on a new, three-year agreement that will run from August 1st, 2015 to July 31st, 2018.
The deal follows the contours of the 2015 IATSE Basic Agreement, which includes:
* 3% increases to contract wage minimums (compounded).
* Unchanged Health Benefits (no increases to $25/$50 per month premiums).
* 10% increase in pension benefits for individuals retiring after August 1, 2015.
* An updated New Media Side Letter.
There were no rollbacks in wage minimums, and TAG negotiated higher contribution hours for storyboard artists working under “unit rates”, as well as improved hours for freelance timing directors.
Contract talks started on Monday and continued until late Wednesday night. Negotiations are never a walk through a flower-filled meadow, but this contract session was less rancorous than the 2012 talks, and achieved better results. The negotiation committee, which included President Jack Thomas and TAG organizer Steve Kaplan, did sterling work in side bar and the “big room.” IATSE Vice President Mike Miller greatly assisted the committee on the final day of talks.