SAG-AFTRA Members Approve 2025 Commercials Contracts Agreement

In national voting completed today, SAG-AFTRA members approved the new, three-year 2025 SAG-AFTRA Commercials Contract and the 2025 SAG-AFTRA Audio Commercials Contract by a vote of 96.90% to 3.10%.

The three-year deal with the Joint Policy Committee, LLC, negotiating on behalf of major national advertisers and advertising agencies, nets SAG-AFTRA members $218.4 million in new earnings and benefit plan contributions — almost doubling the gains achieved in the 2022 deal, which at the time was projected to generate $120 million in gains. The 2025 contracts establish detailed informed consent and compensation guardrails for the use of A.I., streaming use fee increases, gains in health and pension contributions, enhanced protections for minors and deceased performers, and more.

For a full list of the provisions achieved in this contract, please see the summary.

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said, “I applaud SAG-AFTRA members for remaining engaged throughout the process of achieving these contracts. And what contracts these are! This deal represents important gains for performers while addressing the industry’s shift toward streaming. I couldn’t be happier about these A.I. protections and essential streaming pay increases. A heartfelt thank you to the Commercials Negotiating Committee, Co-Chairs Erin Fritch and Katie Von Till, and our diligent negotiating staff led by Duncan Crabtree-Ireland and Ray Rodriguez for bringing this deal across the finish line. Congratulations are in order for everyone who performs in commercials.”

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, “SAG-AFTRA members can now enjoy the gains from this forward-looking agreement that addresses the continuing growth of streaming, implements important A.I. guardrails and locks in essential pay increases. My gratitude goes out to our stalwart Commercials Negotiating Committee, especially its co-chairs, co-lead negotiator Ray Rodriguez and our intrepid staff team, and to all members who were a part of this process and voted to better the lives of their colleagues.” 

Votes were submitted online and by mail-in ballot, with the deadline of today, May 21, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT. The final vote was certified by Integrity Voting Systems, an impartial election service based in Everett, Washington.

On April 27, the SAG-AFTRA National Board met to review the agreements and voted overwhelmingly to approve the deal and recommend a “yes” vote.

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.