Animation Guild Ratifies Contract With Studios and Streamers

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As a lifelong animation enthusiast and a dedicated member of The Animation Guild (TAG), I can’t help but feel a surge of relief and pride upon hearing about the ratification of our new contract. After years of tireless work, we’ve finally managed to secure a deal that not only acknowledges our invaluable contributions to the industry but also safeguards our future in the face of rapidly evolving technologies like artificial intelligence (AI).

The members of The Animation Guild have chosen to agree to their fresh deal with studios and streaming platforms.

According to the guild’s report, a majority of 76.1% of its voting members agreed to approve the contract spanning from 2024 to 2027. This agreement includes salary hikes and crucial safeguards for members regarding the application of artificial intelligence in animation.

Following a three-month long negotiation process, The Animation Guild managed to reach a preliminary accord with representatives from the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers towards the end of November. A significant number of union members expressed their approval for ratification following some dissenting voices within the negotiating committee, who voiced reservations about the AI-related clauses in the contract. This prompted the guild’s executive board to release a statement, praising the agreement as “one of the strongest contracts the Union has secured in the past ten years.

Steve Kaplan, representing TAG business, commended the remarkable effort exerted by the Negotiations Committee in bringing this agreement to fruition and ratification. He emphasized that this agreement is a significant stride towards our objective of crafting the most robust contract for our members. While acknowledging the substantial progress achieved, he also highlighted the necessity of addressing outstanding priority issues. The membership has expressed a pressing need for increased focus on generative artificial intelligence, an issue we plan to tackle using a comprehensive strategy that involves lobbying for suitable legislation, advocating for tax breaks for human work, and filing grievances against potential misuses.

More to come.

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2024-12-23 20:54