Actors Unions Approve Ad Contract

Members of the two major actors unions have overwhelmingly approved a new, three-year contract with the advertising industry that substantially increases pay for actors who appear in commercials, the unions have announced.

The vote by members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists brings a formal conclusion to a contract dispute that led to a six-month strike, which ended in October.

The agreement provides for pay increases of more than 100% for actors in cable television commercials and 6% raises for extras. It requires that commercials made for the Internet use union actors.