* Once again, AFTRA sells out actors for peanuts !!

Yeah, those hardnosed AFTRA negotiators have done it again. Assured that actors will get NO residuals from the explosive multi Billion-dollar Interactive video game market by stepping in ahead of SAG with another sweetheart deal for employers.

Huh? But, but we’re in an economic downturn. Hmmm…first, here is AFTRA’s press release…with a few clarifications by the Ol’ Dog.
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AFTRA Members and Videogame Employers Agree on Terms
for Extending the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement

LOS ANGELES, CA (November 12, 2008)—The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), the nation’s second largest performers union, announced today that it has reached an agreement with videogame employers on terms for a one-year extension to the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement, the union’s collective bargaining agreement covering performers working in videogames.

But, but, I am an AFTRA member, and I don’t remember voting on this extension.

We Don’t need no stinkin’ referendum

Terms of the extension agreement, approved today by the Administrative Committee of the AFTRA National Board, include:

--One-year extension of the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement, effective dates January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009·

--3% increase in initial compensation for all session fees effective January 1, 2009·

We are pleased to have reached an extension agreement with the major videogame employers that keeps AFTRA members working and secures solid increases in wages and benefits on par with the five other major national contracts AFTRA negotiated earlier this year,” said Denny Delk, Chair of the AFTRA Interactive Media Steering Committee. “It’s a testament to the vision and bargaining power of AFTRA members that, in a time of global economic crisis, AFTRA members consistently find common sense solutions to difficult problems.”

The vision and bargaining power of AFTRA members? Have you noticed that the only bargains they reach undercut SAG contracts? They are great at bargaining when they have someone to undercut. Look they could probably even organize non-union cable networks, in their jurisdiction, like CNN, Fox News, and MSNBC if SAG organized them first. Hell, they'd just come in and undercut SAG’s contracts. Okay, Kiddies, our quiz for the day: name one contract they have bargained that pays more than any comparable negotiated SAG contract? As for the global economic crisis, it don’t seem to be affecting the Interactive Video industry all that much. Since 2005 when the “go-along-to get alongs” backed down on getting residuals, not only has the Interactive industry increased their revenue from 10 Billion dollars to 41 Billion dollars, but, also, they now make more money than the movie industry. This from the Internet:

AFTRA Assistant National Executive Director, Mathis L. Dunn, Jr., who serves as Chief Negotiator for the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement, observed: “In addition to putting more money into AFTRA members’ pockets during a time when the country faces the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, this extension agreement secures additional contributions to performers’ health and pension benefits and provides continuing employment opportunities. This extension also permits the joint AFTRA and SAG Commercials Wages and Working (W&W) Conditions meetings currently underway to continue without interruption in preparation for negotiation of the Commercials Contracts which expire on March 31, 2009.”

Yikes! Now they’re bringing in the Great Depression. Which I suppose is rather apropos in that they went to the producers with hat in hand, “Brother can you spare an extra $22.77?” Yeah, they expect to make billions more in the next three years, and actors could get a whopping 60 bucks or so increase on those session fees, but, but, no residuals.

Actors don’t need no stikin’ residuals.

Worldwide, the game industry in 2007 was about $41.9 billion.[7] This number is expected to grow 9.1% annually to $48.9 in 2011 and $68 billion in 2012, making it fastest-growing component of the media sector worldwide.

Howard Fabrick and Scott Witlin of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer & Feld LLP represented the videogame publishers. “The major videogame producers and publishers are pleased to have been able to work out this contract extension with AFTRA. The new agreement provides substantial wage and benefit increases to working performers. It also ensures that all games that go into production through the end of 2009 will be able to be completed without disruption,” Fabrick said. “It is no secret that these past twelve months have been a tumultuous time for labor relations in the fields in which performers work. The stability this agreement provides is good for working performers and for the videogame industry.”

No one can argue it benefits the Interactive Video industry. Oh, and it ensures that ALL games in production will continue with no disruption. Hmmm, ain’t they basically saying screw SAG, we are going with the Company union AFTRA. Must be sweet for them, when they have a compliant union like AFTRA to come in and lowball SAG. Oh, I know lets merge with AFTRA! Hey, that’s always been my theory. To stop someone who is burglarizing your house, you invite them to move in.

The first agreement covering performers working in interactive media and videogames was negotiated by AFTRA over 20 years ago. The AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement is not a contract negotiated under the Phase One Agreement between AFTRA and SAG.

This extension of the AFTRA Interactive Media Agreement brings the total number of national collective bargaining agreements AFTRA members have successfully negotiated or extended this year to six: the Sound Recordings Code, Network TV Code, Primetime Exhibit A of the Network Code, Non-Broadcast/Industrial Code, and CBS/ABC Network Staff News.

In addition, AFTRA has extended a number of smaller agreements: the Electronic Media Agreement, Infomercial Agreement, Video News Release Agreement, and the Local Station Promo Agreement.
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Sooner or later, actors are going to have to make a decision who they want to represent them on all acting jobs in TV and features, or lay down and rollover to AFTRA and merge. You think we have troubles now wait till that happens and we become Uncle Joe’s Media Artist union. A new union with no contracts: all of which will have to be renegotiated with employers…hey, they’ll be fair, right?

Oh, and SAG actors would have to be prepared to take a hit on their pension and health plan, and, and, then, of course, there's the broadcaster problem…you know high-profile AFTRA Members like Larry King, Brian Williams and others who continue to do non-union work. Hey, it won’t hurt if we let the broadcasters stay in “Uncle Joes” and continue to work non-union, right? We’ll just apply Rule One to actors, right? But then I digress…and, as long as I do. Have you heard that there are many involved in the Commercial AFTRA/SAG WW process that because of Booze, ah, make that the Booze- Allen study, are ready to get rid of Class A commercials, effectively putting a CAP on what rank and file actors can make.

We Don’t need no stinkin’ referendum

Actors don’t need no stikin’ residuals.

Worldwide, the game industry in 2007 was about $41.9 billion.[7] This number is expected to grow 9.1% annually to $48.9 in 2011 and $68 billion in 2012, making it fastest-growing component of the media sector worldwide.

Sombreros for everyone!