Question 1

What is the recommendation of the Negotiations Committee and the Executive Board?

Accepted Answer

An overwhelming majority of the Negotiations Committee table team voted to recommend ratification, while the Executive Board voted unanimously in favor of recommending ratification of the tentative agreement. This is a strong contract that addresses industry-specific issues in a meaningful way, with historic improvements in areas that TAG has been working on over the past three negotiations cycles.

Question 2

How do I vote on ratification?

Accepted Answer

Right now, TAG has a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). Ratification is the process where Active TAG members in Good Standing vote on whether or not to accept this tentative 2024-2027 Master Agreement.

Voting will be done by internet between 12 p.m. PST on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, through 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, December 22, 2024.

Starting at noon PST on December 10, ballots were emailed to Active TAG members in Good Standing from vote@honestballot.com with the message: “IATSE Local 839 TAG 2024 Contract Ratification Vote."
In the email you received, you are offered two ways to access your ballot:
 Click a link to access your ballot directly. This link is associated with your email so do not share it.
Click on a voting website link where you will be asked to enter a voter ID and password (which will be provided) to access your ballot.

Once you access your ballot, you will be asked if you approve the contract. Select Yes or No. Upon clicking "continue," you will be asked to review your choice. You can click “change” to change your choice or “confirm” to confirm your choice. Once you confirm your vote, it cannot be changed.

If you did not receive this email and believe you are eligible to vote, please contact membership@tag839.org.

If you have technical difficulties, a help function is built into the system. If you need further assistance, contact Honest Ballot at vote@honestballot.com or 800-541-1851. Customer service is available 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Voting closes at 11:59 p.m. PST on Sunday, December 22, 2024. Please take the time to cast your vote now. It is essential that we have a majority voting turnout. Our voting numbers show the employers how invested we are in the bargaining process and contract. Small numbers diminish our power as a unified organization and can impact our ability to bargain a successful contract in the future.

Question 3

What is ratification?

Accepted Answer

Ratification is the step where the Union’s members vote on whether to accept the contract agreement. The agreement is tentative and requires a majority vote of the members in order for it to be implemented. Once ratified, the tentative agreement will be accepted, and the new terms will be in place for the 3-year duration of the agreement (from Aug. 1, 2024 through and including July 31, 2027).

Question 4

Who is eligible to vote?

Accepted Answer

According to our Constitution and By-Laws, all TAG members who are Active and in Good Standing are eligible to vote for ratification. In order to become an active member in good standing of The Animation Guild:
You must completely pay the application fee and all dues, initiation fees, and assessments so that no monies are owed to The Animation Guild.
You must complete and return the paper membership application form to The Animation Guild. The form will be processed by the Guild office and sent to our parent union, the IATSE office in New York. 
The IATSE office in New York must approve the application and send it back to the Guild office. (Please note this can take 30 days.)
Once all dues and fees are paid, and all membership application processing is completed by both offices, individuals become members in good standing.

In order to have your ballot counted, you must have paid any outstanding balances to the Guild by 5 p.m. on Dec. 4, 2024. Reach out to membership@tag839.org for any questions about payment procedure.

Question 5

What if I'm a withdrawn member and I still want to vote?

Accepted Answer

If you are currently on Withdrawal, you will need to reinstate and pay any accompanying fees and dues that are required by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 2024. Once you are reinstated, you will become an Active member. Please email membership@tag839.org and request to be added to the voting list.

Question 6

What happens if members vote no? Will we get a better deal?

Accepted Answer

If the contract is not ratified, there are no guaranteed outcomes. The Negotiations Committee will have to determine the will of the membership and return to the bargaining table. There is no way to predict how long this new process would take or if any further progress could be made.

Question 7

What if I don't vote? Does that count as a yes or no vote?

Accepted Answer

Not voting means your voice will not be heard on the ratification decision. You are essentially sitting out this decision and letting others make your choice for you. Only cast votes—Yes or No—will be counted. Also, a low voting turnout signals to the employers that our membership isn’t invested in the bargaining process and the contract. It diminishes our power as a unified organization and can impact our ability to bargain a successful contract in the future. Part of your responsibility as a member of the Local is to vote. Please encourage your colleagues to vote, too!

Question 8

I have a question that wasn't covered - where can I find out more?

Accepted Answer

Please first read the material on The Animation Guild’s negotiations website: www.tagnegotiations2024.com. We also have scheduled various ways for you to learn more and ask questions. Check the events page here.

If this does not answer your question, call the Union office at 818-845-7500 or email membership@tag839.org.

Ratification 2024 - Contract FAQS