June 23, 2023
Los Angeles – Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter today announced that the DGA membership has voted to ratify the new collective bargaining agreements between the DGA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP).
DGA Members approved the new three-year agreement by a vote of 87% in favor. 6,728 members voted out of 16,321 eligible voters (41%). The turnout level exceeded any prior DGA ratification vote.
“I’m proud to report that DGA members have joined together to ratify a new contract that will allow every Director, Assistant Director, Unit Production Manager, Associate Director and Stage Manager to share in the success of what we create,” said President Glatter. “Our new contract secures gains on wages, global streaming residuals, safety, diversity and creative rights that build for the future and impact every category of member in our Guild. The strength of our new contract is a testament to our Negotiations Committee Chair Jon Avnet, Negotiations Co-chairs Karen Gaviola and Todd Holland, National Executive Director Russell Hollander and our outstanding professional staff.”
Gains include significant improvements for DGA members in all categories, with extensive advances on wages, global streaming residuals, safety, diversity and creative rights. The deal also establishes minimum terms and conditions in two new areas — non-dramatic programs made for SVOD and high-budget dramatic programs made for AVOD — and includes new provisions confirming that generative AI cannot replace the duties performed by members.
“I also want to acknowledge that the DGA didn’t bargain in a vacuum. We stand united with writers, actors and all crew members in our shared fight to move our industry forward,” continued President Glatter. “We support the actors who are in negotiations and the writers who remain on strike, and we will stand with the IA and Teamsters when they negotiate their agreement next year. We won’t be satisfied until we all have fair contracts that reward us for our creative work — we must create a vibrant, sustainable industry that fairly values us all.”
Formal negotiations between the DGA’s 80-member Negotiations Committee and the AMPTP began Wednesday, May 10, and were concluded on Saturday, June 3. Talks were led by DGA Negotiations Committee Chair Jon Avnet, Co-chairs Karen Gaviola and Todd Holland and DGA National Executive Director Russell Hollander. Television Creative Rights Negotiations were led by Thomas Schlamme and Nicole Kassell. The Negotiations Committee and DGA National Board both unanimously approved and recommended ratification of the agreements. Ratification voting opened on Wednesday, June 7 and closed today at 6:00 PM PT.
The new contract’s three-year term will take effect on July 1, 2023 and will run through June 30, 2026.