SAG-AFTRA Members Approve Four-Year TV Animation Contracts With AMPTP by 94.5% Vote

SAG-AFTRA members ratified the 2026 Television Animation Agreement and the 2026 Basic Cable Animation Agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, approving the four-year contracts by 94.5% to 5.05%. Yahoo reported the vote count on October 30, 2026.

SAG-AFTRA is the union representing performers and broadcasters, and the animation contracts cover members who work in television animation.

What the Animation Contracts Cover

The agreements include a 12.6% wage increase over the term, residuals gains and increases to the health, pension and retirement plans. The contracts also add enhanced protections regarding artificial intelligence. The term runs from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2030, and the terms take effect retroactively.

SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin credited the TV Animation Negotiating Committee and its co-chairs, Bob Bergen and David Jolliffe. "As someone who often works in TV animation, my heartfelt thanks goes out to the TV Animation Negotiating Committee and co-chairs Bob Bergen and David Jolliffe for putting in the time and effort to get SAG-AFTRA members a dignified deal with essential AI protections," Astin said in a statement.

National Executive Director and CEO Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said members who work in TV animation are entitled to meaningful protections around AI and wages that reflect the value of their labor. He thanked Bergen, Jolliffe, the negotiating committee volunteers, Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez and the negotiating staff.

SAG-AFTRA's Push on AI and Health Coverage

SAG-AFTRA, WGA and AFM filed an amicus brief urging a federal judge to reject a fair use exemption for AI training, arguing that unlicensed training harms creators, Yahoo reported on October 30, 2026. On October 26, 2026, Yahoo reported that Astin addressed members' frustration over declining job opportunities and health plan eligibility, noting the plan requires higher earnings. Yahoo reported the same day that less than 1% of members will receive the streaming bonus fund, with about $1.5 million going to roughly 700 performers.

Animation Vote Follows Other Union Deals

Nonfiction workers at RadicalMedia ratified their first union contract, with 95% of voting members approving the five-year deal, Yahoo reported on October 28, 2026. The WGA East represents the group, and the deal sets wage minimums rising two percent annually and includes health insurance contributions. Kotaku reported on October 27, 2026, that Rockstar Games UK developers will vote on unionizing with the IWGB from November 12 to 26, coinciding with the launch of GTA 6.

The animation agreements' terms apply retroactively from July 1, 2026, and run through June 30, 2030, as set out on the union's contract announcement page.