ARTICLE: Nancy Lee Grahn Explains Why Soap Actors Will Continue to Work Despite a Potential Actors Strike

[Errol]

On Friday, Soap Opera Network and Deadline published extensive articles about the ongoing WGA strike and how soap opera actors will continue working on their respective shows even with a potential Actors strike looming. In response to Deadline’s piece, “General Hospital” star Nancy Lee Grahn (Alexis Davis) pointed out on Twitter that even though she has some issues with the dueling SAG-AFTRA contracts (TV/Theatrical vs. Network Television Code), she fully supports the WGA strike and voted to authorize a SAG-AFTRA strike should there be one.

“I’ve been a member of SAG & Aftra, now SAG/Aftra since 1976. I fully support WGA strike & voted to authorize a SAG/AFTRA strike,” said Grahn over a series of tweets. “It pained me to cross a picket line on Wed. I pulled over & explained that I work under Netcode (a contract I’ve many issues with but must abide by).

“We’re required to work regardless of actor strike or be in breach of contract. Daytime actors pay top tier dues (as much as say Ted Lasso cast & Succession cast.) who make infinitely more than us & yet most of us voted to strike due fairness to the greater good & because we believe in Unions. We believe with some exceptions in ours. We believe that what the writers and actors are asking for is correct and just. I stand by the WGA & SAG AFTRA in these current negotiations. And everyday I must go to work, I know that thousands of others cannot while they sacrifice their collective livings for what is right and just.  I will continue to post on their behalf & walk with them, because short of that right now, it’s all that I know to do.”

The current TV/Theatrical Contract concludes on June 30 and should a deal not be met, SAG-AFTRA has been authorized by its members to strike, effective July 1. 

The National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting, also known as the Network Television Code covers morning news shows, talk shows, serials (soap operas), variety, reality, game shows, sports and promotional announcements, including such programs as “Good Morning America,” “Tamron Hall,” “The Young and the Restless,” “Jeopardy,” “Saturday Night Live,” “The Voice,” “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver,” the Academy Awards and the Super Bowl, among a host of others. The current contract was signed in 2022 (retroactive to July 1, 2021) contract runs through July 2024.

Highlights from the contract include:

• General wage increases of 3% per year retroactive to July 1, 2021, applicable to most rates.
• A 1% benefit fund contribution rate increase split 60% to the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan and 40% to the AFTRA Retirement Fund.
• For primetime award shows and entertainment specials, producers are now required to provide transportation to and lodging at broadcast centers in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Washington, D.C., which are presently exceptions to transportation and lodging obligations for all types of programming.
• Required lodging or transportation when exhaustion or inclement weather prevent safe driving.    
• Greatly improved nudity and simulated sex provisions that match the achievements made in the 2020 TV/Theatrical Contracts negotiation.
• Substantial increases for dancers on primetime variety shows and award shows in the extra rehearsal rate (from $30 to $40) and overtime rates (from $45 for primetime variety and $48 for award show rehearsal days to $55 for both), including a new $70 overtime rate for hours in excess of 12 in a day.
• Notice of authorized rehearsals required to be given to dancers to enable dancers and the union to surface and resolve disputes over whether rehearsals are covered.
• Singers now receive doubling pay at 50% of the applicable dancer program fee when required to learn “complex choreography.”
• Where there are more than two weeks of rehearsal for an award show or primetime entertainment special, rehearsal pay is due biweekly instead of after show day. 
• First-ever requirement to pay scale — set at the same as traditional media scale — for promotional announcements made for new media with an additional 15% due for use beyond 13 weeks.
• First-ever requirement of additional compensation — set at 15% of minimum fee — for reuse beyond 13 weeks of a traditional media promotional announcement reused in new media.
• Automatic $14 additional compensation for background actors and stand-ins required to work in artificially generated rain or smoke (excluding herbal cigarettes) when not able to wear appropriate swim, surf or snow gear.
• Stand-in minimum calls significantly increased.

According to SAG-AFTRA, the Network Television Code generates more than $200 million a year in covered member earnings and includes programming in nearly all non-primetime and all non-dramatic primetime television, as well as digital media.

In response to Grahn’s tweets, user Twitter user @mulligan_steph said, “Thanks for your words of solidarity. I’m a member of Actors Equity, and of IATSE. It would pain me to cross a line, too. Keep raising your voice! Every union voice matters.”

User @OrdinaryfoolNJ commented, “AFT1521 stands with the WGA fight!! Our members have walked at Sony in solidarity with the WGA. Whether you can participate or not, glad you’re on the side of unions.”

Grahn’s tweets received just under 85,000 combined views at press time.

Note: The post Nancy Lee Grahn Explains Why Soap Actors Will Continue to Work Despite a Potential Actors Strike appeared first on the Soap Opera Network website.

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