New WGA Agreement

Last month a new Writers Guild of America Basic Agreement took effect. The term of the agreement runs from May 2, 2017 through May 1, 2020. Rather than being an entirely new agreement, the 2017 agreement consists of amendments to the 2014 agreement.

Here are a few things to keep in mind:

• If your company or any affiliate, subsidiary, etc. was a signatory to an earlier WGA agreement (including the 2014 agreement) and you desire to have that company continue as a WGA signatory, you MUST RE-APPLY as a signatory to the WGA Basic Agreement.
• The minimum compensation has, with a few exceptions, increased 2% in the first year and will increase by 2.5% in each of the second and third years. The new schedule of minimums is available here.
• The health plan contribution rate on reportable earnings has increased to 10.5% at the start of the 2017 agreement (from 9.5%) and increases to 11.0% in the second year and to 11.5% in the third year. For 2017 the combined pension, health and welfare rate is 19%.

Further information can be found at the Writers Guild website.

If you’d like to discuss any of the foregoing or would like any help with the signatory process, please feel free to contact us.