The DGA’s national board of directors has unanimously approved the terms of a new three-year contract covering directors and members of the directorial team working on TV commercials. The new pact, which includes pay raises of 2.75% in the first year and 3% in each of the second and third years, now goes to the guild’s members for final ratification.
“Members working in commercials represent a strong and steady portion of the DGA membership, and this contract will secure and grow this area of work for years to come,” said DGA President Paris Barclay.
If ratified by the members, as is expected, the terms of the new contract will take effect December 1 and run through November 30, 2017.
The new agreement, which was negotiated with the Association of Independent Commercial Producers, also calls for increased employer contributions to the DGA pension plan, including a 0.25% increase in the first year and what the guild called “a significant increase” in contributions to the pension and health plans on behalf of directors employed by companies represented by the AICP. This, the guild said, “will allow more directors to qualify for health coverage and increase retirement benefits.”
The new deal also establishes the first diversity program, to be developed and administered by the AICP. The program’s goal, the guild said, is to expand opportunities for commercial directors “with an emphasis on increasing diversity.”
The pact also calls for new low-budget commercial provisions that the guild said “will bring more work to DGA members by providing these companies with the flexibility to capture additional commercial projects.” The guild said that other provisions will increase work opportunities for members working outside of Los Angeles and New York.
The DGA’s negotiating team was led by Russ Hollander, the guild’s associate national executive director. “The commercial negotiations committee, led by Russ Hollander, achieved a tremendous contract with significant benefits for our members,” Barclay said.
“It was important to secure a contract that would improve upon critical provisions, including wages and pension and health contributions, while understanding the changes taking place within the commercial industry,” Hollander said. “We’re especially pleased to have secured the first-ever commercial diversity program and look forward to working with the AICP to strengthen the diversity of this vibrant segment of our industry.”
