Animation Guild Ratifies Three-Year Deal with Studios

The Animation Guild (TAG), representing over 5,000 artists, technicians, writers, and production workers in the animation industry, has overwhelmingly ratified its three-year contract with the AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers). This comes after months of negotiations and a historic voter turnout.

Key Contract Provisions

The new contract, which runs through July 31, 2027, includes significant wins for guild members. These include:

• **Wage Increases:** A 7% wage increase in the first year, 4% in the second, and 3.5% in the third year.
• **AI Protections:** Written notifications and the ability to consult with production teams to identify non-GenAI tools, ensuring human creativity remains central to the animation process.
• **Improved Working Conditions:** Increased on-call hours and dismissal pay, new bereavement leave and additional sick days.
• **Recognition of Juneteenth:** A new paid holiday for members.

The contract also secures craft-specific gains, including staffing minimums for writers and important wins for storyboard artists.

Beyond Pay Raises: Addressing Modern Issues

Notably, the contract includes provisions addressing modern workplace concerns, such as:

• **Gender-Neutral Bathrooms:** Producers will make efforts to provide gender-neutral bathrooms at their facilities.
• **Menstrual Product Accessibility:** Producers will provide menstrual products at no cost to employees at their owned facilities.

Industry Leaders Speak Out

“This agreement is the next step forward in our goal to create the strongest contract for our members,” says TAG Business Representative Steve Kaplan. “The advancements made here are plenty, but there is also much work to be done with regard to addressing the priority matters that were not fully answered.”

He continued, “The membership made clear to us that there is a need for more focus on Generative Artificial Intelligence, and we will attack the issue through a multi-faceted approach including lobbying for effective legislation, advocating for tax incentives for human-made work, and grieving against potential abuses.”

The AMPTP echoed these sentiments, stating: “The AMPTP member companies congratulate The Animation Guild, including its leadership, its bargaining committee and its membership on the ratification of this new three-year deal. The many talented and creative employees represented by The Animation Guild will immediately enjoy historic gains in wages, protections and other important improvements for their craft,”

Impact on Animation Production

The new contract is expected to have a significant impact on the animation industry, ensuring fair compensation, improved working conditions, and a focus on protecting creative jobs in the face of emerging technologies.

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