SAG-AFTRA: We reached a good agreement with Netflix with significant improvements in terms of exclusivity

The SAG-AFTRA National Board voted to approve the renewal agreement with Netflix in a special meeting held this Monday, the 8th. This tentative deal, which began negotiations on June 27 until August 2, applies to productions with scripted, dramatic and feature films made by Netflix Studios, LLC, and brings significant improvements in options and exclusivity rules for series regulators. The document will now be sent to members for ratification.

The agreement gives a new “conflict-free window” of at least three months during each season, in which artists can accept an authorized appearance on another program or network without first consulting availability and potential programming with Netflix. The deal also includes significant changes in favor of extras, stunt coordinators, and dub actors, and significantly expands SAG-AFTRA’s Spanish-language dubbing coverage.

“I was proud to chair these talks and to be there while it was happening. I can validate that we got a good deal! We achieved significant improvements in options and in terms of exclusivity, allowing players with short-film commitments more freedom to work on other projects and ensuring they don’t have to wait too long between jobs,” said SAG-AFTRA president, Fran Drescher.

“The day laborer actors, who are often caught in the middle, benefit the most from these new terms, and we made great strides for extras as well,” said Drescher.

“Our team fought hard for financial gain across the board, and our members from extras to the usual series’ crew will experience that bonus. I am especially proud of our expansion on Spanish dubbing coverage, which translates to equal pay for equal work, regardless of the language. It is another big step forward in our fight for fairness, which is also symbolized by a new holiday that recognizes Juneteenth,” added National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan, Crabtree-Ireland.

Besides improved and strengthened arrangements and exclusivity rules, the contract establishes a new Extras Zone in Albuquerque within a 30-mile (48 km) radius around City Hall. This is the first new extra zone in 24 years. In addition, stunt coordinators will receive a fixed royalty payment for the continued display on Netflix of a high-budget streaming program produced under the Netflix Agreement, and that the Netflix Dubbing Agreement now includes Spanish dubbing, matching the one applied in English.

Netflix and SAG-AFTRA have also agreed that Netflix will join the multi-employer bargaining unit represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Future agreements will be negotiated simultaneously with the AMPTP , where wage rate increases (scale) and the streaming royalty structure, among others, will be addressed soon.

The first Netflix- SAG-AFTRA agreement was established in 2019. It expired on June 30 but was extended until the negotiations concluded.