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SAG-AFTRA announced on Wednesday that its national board has approved a tentative agreement for a new Network Television Code, which covers nearly all non-primetime and all non-dramatic primetime television broadcasts as well as digital media.

The contract, which generates over 200 million in covered earnings for SAG-AFTRA members, was approved with 84 of the vote and now heads to the actors guild membership for a ratification vote. Guild president Fran Drescher highlighted the contract’s new protections for actors involved in nude or intimate scenes, continuing SAG-AFTRA’s work to combat sexual harassment on sets with various initiatives including the creation of an intimacy coordinator registry.

This contract exemplifies why unions are essential for labor. Thanks to the strength of SAG-AFTRA, which fought for the substantial gains acquired through this negotiation, many will benefit. The biggest beneficiaries being dancers, stand-ins and promotional announcers,” Drescher said in a statement. “But, also in the...

SAG-AFTRA’s national board has voted overwhelmingly (84.54 to 15.46) to approve a tentative new agreement for its Network Television Code, which was recently negotiated with the major television broadcast networks and other producers. It will now be sent to SAG-AFTRA members for ratification.

The contract generates more than 200 million a year in covered earnings for members working on nearly all non-primetime and all non-dramatic primetime television, as well as digital media. Covered programs include morning news shows, talk shows, soap operas, variety, reality, game shows, sports and promotional announcements. Current programs covered include Good Morning America, Tamron Hall, The Young and the Restless, Jeopardy, Saturday Night Live, The Voice, So You Think You Can Dance, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl.

“This contract exemplifies why unions are essential for labor,” said SAG-AFTRA president Fran Drescher. “Thanks to the strength of SAG-AFTRA, which fought for...

New York -- With all of the conflict surrounding SAG -- its infighting and struggle to reach a new deal with film and television producers -- it's easy to forget that it hasn't been a cakewalk for AFTRA in 2008.

In addition to forging its own primetime broadcast TV deal, AFTRA negotiated or extended five other contracts: sound recordings, non-broadcast industrials, ABC and CBS network news and an interactive agreement (a one-year extension). The primetime contract was particularly difficult, given that onetime ally SAG mounted a campaign, ultimately unsuccessful, to defeat it.

Nevertheless, AFTRA seems much healthier than its estranged sister union. It has none of the infighting that plagues SAG and, coupled with the uncertainty surrounding the guild's TV and film contract, the federation has been able to secure jurisdiction for a significant number of pilots for 2009.

On the cusp of 2009, AFTRA national president Roberta Reardon and national executive director...

Developments over the last few days:

SAG leaders met with business managers and publicists, and, separately, with agents, to brief them on SAG’s positions and plans. SAG apparently did not win any converts at the meetings.A Hollywood-based SAG member, Keri Tombazian, launched a website called http://www.SAGDecision.com, as a hub for materials opposing a strike authorization.Today, the AMPTP sent out a letter to politicians in key film-producing states—Cal., NY, Ill. and Mich.—blasting SAG’s refusal to make a deal. Reportedly, the letter may go out to additional states as well.Also today, members of the NY SAG Board began what Back Stage’s blog describes as a “regional uprising,” releasing a letter opposing a strike authorization. Similar letters are expected over the weekend from multiple regional leaders around the country.Update: In response to the NY Board members' letter, SAG President Alan Rosenberg...

The AMPTP and SAG's New York board are applying added pressure on guild members to vote against a strike authorization.

As AMPTP president Nick Counter sent a letter Friday to elected officials in several states making the case for its June 30 final offer, SAG's New York board was pushing back hard against the leadership's recent announcement of the authorization vote set for next month.

SAG national president Alan Rosenberg said he was "shocked and troubled" by the actions of the New York board. He responded to the board's demand for an emergency meeting to appoint a new negotiating task force by saying he would call an emergency board meeting -- not to discuss the New York board's demand but to address "this extraordinarily destructive and subversive action."

Separately, SAG announced a "solidarity campaign," pledging support for the strike authorization vote listing the names of 30 actors who have signed on. The list included Mel Gibson,...