Animation Guild Reaches Tentative Agreement with AMPTP

On November 22, 2024, the Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839 (TAG), announced a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) after more than three months of negotiations.
Negotiations began on August 12, 2024, focusing on wage increases, shrinking crews, and establishing guidelines for the use of generative AI. Despite an initial five-day bargaining period, no agreement was reached. Talks resumed on September 16, 2024, spanning 16 non-consecutive days and culminating in the tentative agreement reached early Saturday morning.
TAG renegotiates its agreement with the AMPTP every three years. This round of bargaining resulted in significant gains for union members, including:
- Enhanced health and pension benefits: Increased funding with no reductions to healthcare coverage or added costs to members.
- Wage increases: 7% in the first year, 4% in the second, and 3.5% in the third.
- AI safeguards: Provisions requiring notification and consultation on the use of generative AI.
- Remote work protections: Securing rights and conditions for remote employees.
- New leave policies: Introduction of bereavement leave and additional sick days.
- Juneteenth recognized as a holiday.
- Craft-specific wins: Frameworks for minimum staffing for writers and significant advancements for storyboard artists.
- Improvements to the New Media Sideletter (Sideletter N).
The agreement now moves to a ratification vote by TAG members.