Compulsory vaccinations against Covid-19 now an option on film and television productions – Deadline

Mandatory Covid-19 vaccinations on film and television productions will now be allowed, on a restricted basis, under a new agreement reached tonight between Hollywood unions and big business. The new protocols, they said in a joint statement, will give producers “the ability to implement compulsory vaccination policies for actors and teams in zone A on a production-by-production basis.” Zone A, where unmasked actors work, is the most restrictive of the secure work zones on the sets.

Last month, SAG-AFTRA passed tough new guidelines for employers that can make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory as a condition of employment.

SAG-AFTRA Adopts Guidelines For Employers That May Make Covid-19 Vaccinations Mandatory

Additional changes to protocols include frequency of testing for parts of the United States and Canada where the incidence of Covid-19 is and remains very low, as well as changes to exterior masking requirements and updated meal protocols. day.

The agreement, which will remain in effect until September 30, 2021, was initially concluded last September between the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers of the management and the DGA, SAG-AFTRA, IATSE, the Teamsters and Basic Crafts . In the meantime, they say, they “will continue to closely monitor developments in Covid-19 and consider further changes at that time.”

The protocols were drawn up last September and were originally scheduled to expire on April 30, but were extended until June 30, and then extended again indefinitely on June 30 to give the parties “time” to reach a new deal. The IATSE has even postponed until next month the resumption of its separate negotiations with AMPTP for a new film and television contract in order to focus on return-to-work protocols.

Film and television industry return-to-work protocols extended indefinitely