Hollywood unions have reached an agreement with management’s AMPTP on revised Covid-19 protocols. In a statement, the unions said the new agreement “creates a more flexible set of protocols for areas in the US and Canada with low Covid hospital admissions, while maintaining the core elements to keep seats secure.” The unions – SAG-AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, Teamsters and Basic Crafts – said the agreement was reached “with the continued commitment to keep castes, crews and all prepared workers safe in light of the changed impact of Covid-19.”
The changes only apply to areas that have confirmed low Covid hospital admissions, which largely leaves the demands on areas that are experiencing increasing hospitalization rates. These practices in the workplace apply to both vaccinated and unvaccinated accomplices and crew.
The test protocols are as follows: Pre-employment testing is still required by all crews, but with changes to the permitted test types. Testing will still be required on an ongoing weekly basis during production for zones A and B, but reduced in frequency. Zones C and D do not require pre-employment testing. Zone A, where masked actors work, is the most restrictive of the protocol’s safe work zones on footage.
Under the new guidelines, masking will not be required in most settings, with the exception of shuttle vans. Other changes include flexibility in meal service and transport regulations.
The following current terms and conditions remain in place:
Vaccination: The new agreement continues to allow employers to require Zone A employees to be “up to date” on their vaccinations, including a booster.
COVID Compliance Supervisor: Appointment of a dedicated COVID-19 compliance supervisor with responsibility for safety compliance and enforcement, who will be available to the cast and crew at all times during working hours.
Quarantine pay and sick leave: All employees will continue to receive 10 days of COVID-19 paid sick leave, and the leave can be used for any of the eligible Covid-19 events, such as testing positive, showing symptoms, isolation or self-quarantine, or when a member of their household test positive for Covid-19.
The agreement also allows employers to set stricter requirements for masking and testing as production conditions require.
The agreement will remain in effect until July 15, 2022. The unions said they will continue to monitor Covid developments closely and will consider further changes at that time.
First adopted in September 2020 after a month-long production shutdown, the unions said the Covid Security Agreement “is the result of unprecedented coordination and solidarity between unions and collaboration with employers to develop science-based protocols that minimize the risk of Covid-19 virus transmission in industry-specific work environments. “Since then, the protocols have driven a successful recovery in film and television production, prioritizing the safety of cast, crew and all staff on stage.”