AFTRA Approves New Deal With 62.4% ...

I am – Hercules!!
It looks like Hollywood will be getting back to work. American Federation of Television and Radio Artists membership has approved its new contract with the The Association of Motion Picture and Television Producers. AFTRA president Roberta Reardon:

“Today's vote reflects the ability of AFTRA members to recognize a solid contract when they see it. Despite an unprecedented disinformation campaign aimed at interfering with our ratification process, a majority of members ultimately focused on what mattered -- the obvious merits of a labor agreement that contains substantial gains for every category of performer in both traditional and new media.”

An AMPTP statement:

“We appreciate today's vote of confidence by actors in the agreement we reached with AFTRA, and hope that it demonstrates to SAG's Hollywood leadership that there is support for the new economic relationships we have built with writers, directors and actors -- and not much support for a strike, whether de facto or real.”

SAG president Alan Rosenberg:

“Clearly many Screen Actors Guild members responded to our education and outreach campaign and voted against the inadequate AFTRA agreement. We knew AFTRA would appeal to its many AFTRA-only members, who are news people, sportscasters and DJs, to pass the tentative agreement covering acting jobs. In its materials, AFTRA focused that appeal on the importance of actor members' increased contributions to help fund its broadcast members' pension and health benefits.”

Daily Variety:

“[SAG] now faces the unsavory prospect of AFTRA signing up new shows shot on digital - an area of shared jurisdiction - with the new contract.”

The Writers Guild of America and the Directors Guild of America made their deals with the AMPTP earlier this year. SAG expects to respond to the AMPTP’s June 30 “final offer” Thursday. Whether SAG accepts the new AMPTP contract or not, the AFTRA vote would seem to further diminish SAG’s ability to win the 75% membership vote that would permit it to strike anytime in the near future. And that now makes it easier to the studios to greenlight new movies. Read all of the Hollywood Reporter’s story on the matter here. Read all of Variety’s story on the matter here.