TV, Movie Craftsmen Reach AMPTP Pact

Three-Year Agreement Includes Share In New Media Proceeds

By Multi Channel News Staff -- Multichannel News, 11/20/2008 3:40:00 AM MT

The union representing craftsmen on movie and TV sets has reached a three-year contract agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers.

The pact between the AMPTP and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts has terms that mirror those accepted in earlier union negotiations by writers, directors and some actors. For instance, it gives the 35,000 members of the union a share in the proceeds from work that is done in new media such as Internet originals.

"This was a tough negotiation during tough economic times but both sides worked hard and negotiated reasonably to come to this agreement," said IATSE International president Matthew Loeb in a statement. "This new agreement allows new media to evolve."

This marks the completion of the sixth major labor agreement between producers and guilds this year. The IATSE contract was settled on the eve of a meeting between the AMPTP and the Screen Actors Guild, which has rejected the terms of the last contract offer from the producers. SAG's contract expired on June 30. In the fall, when SAG didn't receive a positive reaction to its call for AMPTP return to the table, it requested federal contract mediation on Oct. 19. Mediator Juan Carlos Gonzales has met twice with each side; he will guide the meeting today (Nov. 20).