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DGA Magazine VOL 28-3: September 2003
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DGA President Michael Apted announces new Network Agreement at the 5th Annual DGA Honors (Photo by Matthew Peyton/Getty Images) - click image for larger view
At the National Board meeting on December 11, President Michael Apted announced that our membership overwhelmingly ratified new three-year agreements with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) and the Networks (ABC, CBS, and NBC).

The total economic benefits package negotiated for the Basic Agreement is the largest in Guild history. The Network Agreement protects DGA jurisdiction and jobs while addressing network operational and technological concerns and contains improvements in key economic areas, including significant gains in health care. This agreement covers staff and freelance members employed in news, sports and operations at the companies' television networks and at a number of their owned television stations.

"Considering the significant health and wage gains we were able to achieve with the studios, and then the networks, I am proud of what the Guild has been able to accomplish on behalf our members – and the members have clearly agreed by ratifying this contract by an overwhelming margin," said Apted.

Network Negotiations Chair Bill Brady. (Photo by Committee Member/DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger) - .click image for larger view
"Not only were we able to obtain wage increases on behalf of our members for the next three years, we were able to achieve significant health care improvements for freelance employees," said to Network Staff Negotiations Committee Chair William M. Brady. "The Guild's leadership position in the industry, the committee's careful and acute attention to change in our field, and the Networks' recognition of the quality of the DGA member, allowed us to work together to build a strong, yet flexible and mature contract."

DGA Negotiations Committee Chair Gil Cates - click image for larger view.
Russell Hollander, the DGA's Eastern Executive Director added, "Our goal was to protect our members' health care — and with health rate increases kicking in early on January 1, 2005, with an additional increase in January, 2006 — we have given our members and the DGA's Health Plan an extra six months of health care gains that would not have happened if we had negotiated up to the deadline."

"We walked into negotiations with two goals in mind — getting the best possible deal for our members and keeping our members and the industry working," said DGA Negotiating Committee Chairman Gil Cates. "And we were successful on both counts."
DGA Contract Negotiations Gallery
DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view
DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Committee Chairman Gil Cates, AMPTP President Nick Counter - click image for larger view
DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view DGA Negotiating Team reaches agreement with AMPTP - click image for larger view Bill Brady, DGA Network Staff Negotiations Committee Chair; and Russ Hollander, DGA Eastern Executive Director . (Photo by Committee Member/DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger) - click image for larger view (left to right) Wendy Freedman, Vice President Talent Negotiations and Labor Relations/NBC, Inc.; Jeff Ruthizer, Senior Vice President Labor Relations/ABC; Ed Yergeau, Senior Vice President Industrial Relations/CBS; Bill Brady, DGA Network Staff Negotiations Committee Chair; and Russ Hollander, DGA Eastern Executive Director . (Photo by Committee Member/DGA Assistant Secretary-Treasurer Scott Berger) - click image for larger view

The DGA would like to thank the dedicated participants of both negotiating committees for their efforts on behalf of their fellow members.

Negotiating Committee
Gil Cates - Chair
Herb Adelman, LeVar Burton, Bob Butler, Henry Chan, Casey Childs, Anita Cooper-Avrick, Alan Curtiss, Mel Damski, Mimi Deaton, Cheryl Downey, Vince Duque, Dan Fendel, Steve Glanzrock , Phillip Goldfarb, Louis Guerra, David Hakim, Duncan Henderson, Rod Holcomb, Todd Holland, Cleve Landsberg, Michael Lembeck, Tom Lofaro, Sean Mulcahy , Dency Nelson, C.J. Rapp Pittman, John Rich, Barbara Roche, Joe Russo, Elena Santaballa, Tracey Smith, Howard Storm, Jesús Treviño, Glen Trotiner, Carl Weathers, Michael Zinberg.

Network Staff Negotiating Committee
Bill Brady - Chair
David Bandfield, Steven Besner, Scott Berger, Don Jacobs, Jef Kos, Catherine Kay, John Libretto, Candy Martinez, Dennis Mazzocco, Steve Rodrigues, Mark Traub

Theatrical Creative Rights Committee
Steven Soderbergh, Jonathan Mostow - Co-Chairs
Michael Bay, Thomas Carter, Martha Coolidge, Wes Craven, Andy Davis, Roger Donaldson, David Fincher, Carl Franklin, F. Gary Gray, Taylor Hackford, Curtis Hanson, Jonathan Lynn, Michael Mann, Frank Marshall, McG, E. Elias Merhige, Phillip Noyce, Donald Petrie, Sam Raimi, Brad Silberling, Penelope Spheeris, Betty Thomas, Jon Turteltaub, Ron Underwood.

Television Creative Rights Committee
Rod Holcomb, Michael Zinberg - Co-Chairs
Robert Markowitz, Mike Robe, TV Movies Co-Chairs
Paris Barclay, Sanford Bookstaver, Graeme Clifford, James Frawley, Steve Gomer, Charles Haid, Victoria Hochberg, Mick Jackson, Jeremy Kagan, Jonathan Kaplan, Elodie Keene, Allison Liddi, Lesli Linka Glatter, Alan Myerson, Oz Scott, David Semel, Mark Tinker.
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