For decades, the MBA allowed companies to establish training programs under which writers from underrepresented groups who had not previously worked under an MBA could be employed at a steeply discounted trainee wage rate. At this time, there will be no in-person Script Registration. That unpaid hold period is now shortened to 60 days, after which the company must pay to hold the writer in first position or the writer is free to find another job.
Summary of the 2020 WGA MBA The following is a summary of the negotiated amendments to be included in the 2020 MBA. A few items do not increase in the contract. The salary limit under which options and exclusivity protections apply will increase from $280,500 to $325,000 in May of 2021; The first position option period will be reduced from 90 to 60 days, after which a company must pay to hold the writer in first position or the writer is free to find another job; Writers working on a project for 8 weeks or less will have more protections; in such cases, the company is prohibited from negotiating an option for future work unless the work starts immediately after the initial short employment; and. What were the new writer discounts and why were they eliminated? We clarified how and when subscribers of HBSVOD platforms are to be counted to help determine the right amounts due for initial compensation and residuals. The Guild agreed that when an AMPTP member company seeks to add an affiliated or related entity as a signatory to the MBA and provides a guarantee for that entity, the entity shall be added as a signatory to the MBA and not through signing a Letter of Adherence; The parties added to the existing list of waivers of local and municipal sick time laws; The parties agreed to renew sunset clauses in various provisions of the MBA; The Guild agreed to exclude certain COVID-19 related costs from budget thresholds; The Guild agreed to work with the companies to implement email delivery of notices of tentative writing credits to television writers; and.
Term of Agreement (WGA Proposal No.
The tables below provide examples of these residual improvements for various platforms by calculating a total for three years of reuse inclusive of both year one and year two 7.5% increases to the residual base.
For the first time ever, writers who qualify for Guild health insurance will be able to get a paid parental benefit to assist them with the birth of a new child, the adoption of a new child, or the placement of a foster child. This benefit will be funded by a new employer contribution of 0.5% of writers’ earnings, paid in the same manner as contributions to the Pension Plan and Health Fund. Please note that if you are working under a deal from prior to August 2, 2020—including options exercised under that prior deal—the $350,000 cap continues to apply to your employment.
In total, the Guild secured the right to increase the pension contribution rate by 2.75% during this MBA. To adequately fund the benefit, we agreed that paid parental benefit will become available starting May 2, 2021. Tri-Guild Audit Program Residuals for HBSVOD programs generally increase 46% due to changes in several factors in the formula for calculating the residual.
Notify the Guild when you start a screenwriting project, Obtain the 2017 MBA and Schedule of Minimums, Dues, declared earnings, residuals & more, Find out if we have Foreign Levies for you. Read a FAQ about the 2020 MBA contract changes. The Guild succeeded in eliminating this program, which resulted in lower compensation to writers from underrepresented groups.
The new thresholds and effective dates are as follows: 20-35 minute programs: $1,000,000 and above (down from $1,300,000), effective the first Sunday following the AMPTP’s receipt of notice of ratification ($1,030,000 and above, effective May 2, 2022).
This benefit will be coordinated with state benefits, if available. In the 2017 agreement, we negotiated unpaid parenting leave for the first time ever.
Summary of the 2020 MBA The Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA) was renegotiated in 2017. Residuals for HBSVOD programs generally increase 46% due to changes in several factors in the formula for calculating the residual.
The Guild sought to eliminate the discounts because they undercut MBA minimums and had disproportionately applied to underrepresented groups. But in the entertainment industry, even this seemingly simple concept is complicated in practice, and the MBA is complicated as a result.
While the pension rate increases are diverted from minimums, it is also true that with many screen and television writers working above scale, minimum increases have less of an effect on writer pay than do benefit contributions. The Guild has enhanced the contractual right to meet with employers about their inclusion and equity programs and anti-harassment measures.
We agreed to change fixed residuals for broadcast syndication sales of dramatic programs to 2% of the company’s accountable receipts for series licensed to the syndication market after July 1, 2020; We agreed to reduce fixed residuals for the first two seasons of new, low-budget non-dramatic programs made for broadcast and rerun in syndication; We agreed to a fixed residual payment when high-budget SVOD programs are exhibited on a related ad-supported online streaming platform; We agreed to accommodate the situation where a program is made for one market but initially exhibited in another, by agreeing to use the residual terms for the market in which the program is initially exhibited; We agreed to increase the thresholds under which the terms and conditions for employment on basic cable dramatic programs can be negotiated with the Guild. If you have been working during this time at Guild minimum, your fees should be increased by 1.5%.
The Guild agreed that when an AMPTP member company seeks to add an affiliated or related entity as a signatory to the MBA and provides a guarantee for that entity, the entity shall be added as a signatory to the MBA and not through signing a Letter of Adherence; The parties added to the existing list of waivers of local and municipal sick time laws; The parties agreed to renew sunset clauses in various provisions of the MBA; The Guild agreed to exclude certain COVID-19 related costs from budget thresholds; The Guild agreed to work with the companies to implement email delivery of notices of tentative writing credits to television writers; and. 49) Three-year term: May 2, 2020 to May 1, 2023.
The new thresholds and effective dates are as follows: 20-35 minute programs: $1,000,000 and above (down from $1,300,000), effective the first Sunday following the AMPTP’s receipt of notice of ratification ($1,030,000 and above, effective May 2, 2022).