The DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement Explained
The Directors Guild of America (DGA) is a labor union that represents over 18,000 directors, assistant directors, and production staff in the film and television industry. One of the key functions of the DGA is to negotiate and administer collective bargaining agreements (CBAs) on behalf of its members. In this article, we`ll take a closer look at the DGA CBA and what it means for filmmakers and productions.
What is a Collective Bargaining Agreement?
A collective bargaining agreement is a legally binding contract between a labor union and an employer that governs wages, hours, and working conditions. CBAs are negotiated through a process of collective bargaining, where the union and employer sit down and negotiate the terms of the agreement. The result is a document that outlines the rights and responsibilities of both the union and the employer.
What is the DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement?
The DGA CBA is the collective bargaining agreement negotiated between the DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), which represents the major studios and independent producers in the film and television industry. The current DGA CBA covers the period from 2017 to 2020.
What Does the DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement Cover?
The DGA CBA covers a wide range of topics, including:
– Minimum wages and working conditions for directors, assistant directors, and unit production managers
– Residuals and other forms of compensation for the reuse of content
– Health and pension benefits for members
– Terms for new media and emerging technologies
One of the key features of the DGA CBA is its provisions for residuals, which are payments that are made to directors and other creative talent when their work is reused in various forms of media. Residuals are a critical component of compensation for many filmmakers, and the DGA has been a leader in securing fair residuals for its members.
The DGA CBA also includes provisions for health and pension benefits, which are crucial to the well-being of members. These benefits are funded through employer contributions and provide important financial security for members.
How Does the DGA CBA Benefit Filmmakers and Productions?
The DGA CBA provides a framework for fair and equitable compensation and working conditions for filmmakers and their crews. By negotiating these agreements on behalf of its members, the DGA ensures that filmmakers have a voice in the industry and that their contributions to the creative process are recognized and compensated fairly.
For productions, the DGA CBA provides a predictable and stable framework for labor relations, which helps to minimize disruptions and ensure that productions are completed on time and on budget.
In Summary
The DGA Collective Bargaining Agreement is a critical component of the film and television industry. By negotiating fair and equitable wages, working conditions, and other benefits for its members, the DGA helps to ensure that filmmakers have a voice in the industry and that their contributions are recognized and compensated fairly. For productions, the DGA CBA provides a stable framework for labor relations, which helps to ensure that productions are completed on time and on budget.
