AFTRA has announced that the voting members have approved the video games agreement.  The members who worked within the last 3 years were eligible to vote.   2200 AFTRA members received ballots and were able to vote online or by phone.

Minimum wages will increase by 2.5% effective April 1, 2010. The new wage rate will be $802 for a four hour session.  The AFTRA Health and Retirement Plans contribution rate will increase to 15% effective January 1, 2010 but the contributions will be subject to a annual, per employer, jper performer cap of $125,000.

A new category of work was created under the new agreement that allows the employer to hire a performer to record atmospheric voices.    The boundaries of this category of work will be subject to on-going industry union discussions.  

In addition, there is a new provision which requires employers to notify performers about vocally stressful work (screaming and the like). Failure to advise a performer will result in a liquidated damage assessment.

AFTRA's current vid game rates are available on the Rates page of the Entertainment Labor Consulting Inc website.  The rates will be updated to include the increases shortly.