The Directors Guild of America (DGA) has tentatively agreed to a four-year contract with major studios, concluding this year’s major labor negotiations with minimal drama.
Details of the agreement remain undisclosed, pending approval by the union’s board and subsequent ratification by its members.
In a statement, the DGA noted, “Consistent with the Guild’s longstanding practice, terms of the agreement will not be released publicly until the National Board has completed its review.”
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) has now secured four-year agreements with the three principal above-the-line guilds. Recently, SAG-AFTRA members approved their contract, while the Writers Guild of America ratified a four-year agreement in April.
Expressing satisfaction, the AMPTP stated, “We appreciate the hard work and commitment of our guild partners in achieving a fair deal that helps advance a stable and successful entertainment industry.”
Negotiations commenced on May 11, with the current contract set to expire on June 30.
Following the disruptive strikes of 2023, the AMPTP aimed to secure a longer period of labor peace in this year’s talks. Historically, major union contracts have spanned three years since the 1980s, though the AMPTP initially sought a five-year term.
The four-year term agreed upon by the WGA set a precedent for the subsequent SAG-AFTRA and DGA negotiations.
The DGA’s discussions, like those of the WGA, primarily focused on the health fund, which experienced losses of $38.8 million in 2024 and $4.6 million in 2023. The WGA accepted higher premiums and out-of-pocket limits in return for a $321 million cash boost, and the DGA’s agreement is expected to involve increased employer contributions and reduced benefits.
Additionally, the DGA has sought enhanced protections against artificial intelligence and measures to promote increased hiring of its members.
