Video Game Companies Sign New Contract with SAG, AFTRA

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) have jointly announced that they've reached new tentative agreements with video game companies. Most voice actors in video games today are represented by either SAG or AFTRA, and the new agreements now bring parity between the two organizations. 

The new agreements, which become effective upon ratification and remain in effect until March 30, 2011, will result in a 3 percent wage increase for SAG (bringing SAG’s wages into parity with AFTRA’s), and another 2.5 percent increase on April 1, 2010, for both unions. Furthermore, the agreements also include increases in benefit contributions and "a liquidated damages provision to incentivize employers to give notice of vocally stressful work." This liquidated damage would be in the amount of $100.

Another important component of the contracts will be the formation of a new category of performance for “atmospheric voices.” The unions said that  this is "designed to increase work opportunities for union performers  by allowing Producers the flexibility to record multiple minor character voices in a single session."

Finally, the agreements also establish a cap of $125,000 on contributions to the AFTRA Health and Retirement and SAG Pension and Health funds, which will only apply to performers who are paid more than $125,000 by a single producer in a single year for work done on the same game franchise.

IndustryGamers is happy to see the parties involved come to an agreement. Having solid voice acting in today's video games can make a huge difference in the overall experience. The voice actors do a lot of hard work and should be treated fairly.