SAG-AFTRA, which has accused Telemundo of treating its Spanish-language talent like “second-class citizens,” has signed the network’s Latin American Music Awards to a union contract. It’s the first nationally broadcast awards show produced by Telemundo that will be covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement, and a major breakthrough in the union’s ongoing campaign to organize the network’s on-air talent.
“This is an important step,” SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris said today. “I applaud Telemundo for moving in the right direction by ensuring fair wages and working conditions for its performers during this year’s Latin American Music Awards. As the network increases production and reaches record audiences, we look forward to continued progress.”
The union wants a contract covering all of Telemundo’s shows, and has accused its corporate owner NBCUniversal of embracing a “double standard” when it comes to Spanish-language and English-language performers. The union said performers at Telemundo make half as much as their counterparts at NBC.
“This is a win for the performers on this program and we are thrilled that Telemundo’s Latin American Music Awards will be covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement,” said David White, the union’s national executive director. “We encourage NBCUniversal and Telemundo to continue to work with SAG-AFTRA to ensure equal protections for Spanish-language performers throughout the Telemundo production universe.”
The Latin American Music Awards air October 6.
