Being first at the negotiating table means a lot, but there is no word yet on whether it will be DGA, WGA or SAG-AFTRA

Which guild comes to the negotiating table first — the DGA, the WGA or the SAG-AFTRA — remains open for the upcoming cycle of film and television contract talks with the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers. If history is any judge, who goes first can predict whether there will be a strike this year – or more than one.

Ultimately, each guild, in consultation with the AMPTP, decides when and in what order to start negotiations.

DGA has come out on top in each of the last three three-year bargaining cycles, despite their contracts expiring at the same time as SAG-AFTRA – on June 30 – and two months after WGA’s contract on May 1. DGA often begins negotiations many months before its contracts expire.

“When we decide whether we are going to participate in negotiations,” DGA said recently, “we are guided by a simple principle: we only start negotiations when we feel we have the most influence to get the best possible agreement.” to score and their teams.”

The last time DGA was not first was in 2010, when SAG and AFTRA came to the negotiating table first before the merger. Most recently, the WGA was first in 2007, followed by a 100-day writers’ strike.

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Who goes first is important as it tends to dictate the negotiation pattern for the others, although each guild has its own unique needs that cannot be addressed with negotiation patterns. But issues like annual salary increases and residual rates are usually decided by those first at the bargaining table and are usually passed on to the next two guilds when they come, as companies don’t want to give much better terms to a guild. about the other.

The 2020 cycle was initiated by DGA three years ago when DGA and AMPTP announced on February 4 that they had agreed to begin formal contract negotiations on February 10. Negotiations began on March 4, just before the Covid pandemic broke out. The DGA board approved the deal — as do all guild councils after their deals go through — and the pact was subsequently ratified by an “overwhelming majority” of its members on April 3. unknown how many members voted, or the margin of approval.

The WGA followed suit in 2020 and announced on March 6 that it would begin negotiations with the AMPTP on March 23. By this time, however, the Covid pandemic had crippled the industry, making it almost impossible for the guild to strike at the time. few worked anyway. An agreement was reached on 1 July and on 29 July the treaty was ratified by 98% of the voting members. Only 87 members voted against, compared to 4,068 who agreed.

SAG-AFTRA was active next year and on April 24 said in a joint statement with the AMPTP that they would begin negotiations on April 27. Due to the pandemic and stay-at-home orders, the talks would be conducted via video conference. A tentative agreement was reached on June 11, ratified by 74.2% to 25.8% and a vote percentage of 27.2%.

The 2016-2017 cycle started early for the DGA, which began talks with the AMPTP on 5 December 2016 and concluded with an agreement two days before Christmas. The contract was reaffirmed on 25 January 2017 by an “overwhelming margin”.

The WGA began this cycle to negotiate its contract on March 13, 2017, and talks ended with a tentative agreement reached in the early hours of May 2 – shortly after the contract expired and a strike was threatened. The deal was ratified by members on May 24, and this time the approval rating was even more lopsided, with 99.2% of voting members approving it. Only 30 members said “no”.

SAG-AFTRA, third again this year, began preliminary talks on 17 May 2017 to lay the groundwork for negotiations. Formal negotiations began on 31 May, and an agreement was reached on 4 July, which was confirmed by a vote. from 75.8% to 24.2% of the voters. About 140,000 members received ballots by post; 15.3% agreed.

For the 2013-2014 cycle, which started even earlier this time, the DGA once again sat at the top of the negotiating table. On October 23, 2013, the Guild and AMPTP announced that they had agreed to begin formal contract negotiations on November 4, 2013. An agreement was reached on 22 November after just 18 days of negotiations and ratified on 8 January. 2014 – again with an “overwhelming lead”.

The WGA announced on 28 January 2014 that it would start negotiations with the AMPTP on 3 February. A tentative agreement was reached on April 1 – a month before the old contract expired – which was approved by % of the members on April 30, with only about 15% of the members having the right to vote.

SAG-AFTRA began talks on May 5 this year and reached an agreement on July 4. The treaty was ratified on 22 August with a majority of 92.1% to 7.9%. As Deadline noted before these talks, “The DGA and WGA negotiated new contracts earlier this year and these agreements – both overwhelmingly approved by their members – will provide the framework for the new SAG-AFTRA agreement. “

Prior to their merger, SAG and AFTRA entered the 2010–2011 negotiation cycle with the AMPTP on 27 September 2010, well before their contracts expired on 30 June 2011. An agreement was reached on 7 November and ratified on 11 January, with 93.5% of voting members approving it.

It was the turn of the DGA. On 11 November 2010, the DGA and the AMPTP announced that they had agreed to begin formal contract negotiations on 16 November. 18th, 2011.

The WKV ended the cycle with negotiations starting on 3 March 2011. An agreement was reached on 20 March and the agreement was ratified on 27 April with the approval of 90.7% of the voting members.

RELATED: Historically, WGA too late to strike, with residuals again key issue of upcoming talks

In 2007, the WGA was the first to act, opening talks with the AMPTP on July 16, although their contract was not scheduled to expire until October 31 of that year. After months of negotiations, an impasse occurred and a strike began in November. 5. It ended 100 days later on February 12, 2008 when more than 92% of WGA members voted to accept an agreement unanimously approved by the WGA West and WGA East Board of Directors four days earlier.

The DGA’s negotiations with the AMPTP began near the end of the WGA strike – on January 12, 2008 – and ended with a tentative agreement on January 17, which set the model for the WGA’s settlement three weeks later.

Three days before the end of the WGA strike, SAG and AFTRA, who had been fighting each other, announced that they would negotiate a contract with the AMPTP. Those talks started in April, but SAG and AFTRA had a big row and went their separate ways. AFTRA then entered into a separate agreement with the AMPTP for a new television contact, which was ratified by its members on 8 July. But the SAG held its own at the negotiating table before reaching a film and television deal that was only ratified by its members on June 9. , 2009. SAG and AFTRA merged in 2012.