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IATSE Videotape Agreement Changes and Effective Dates (Updated September 2026)

Written by GreenSlate | Sep 28, 2026, 2:28:54 PM

Last updated September 28, 2026.

The 2024 Producer-IATSE and M.P.T.A.A.C. Videotape Electronics Supplemental Basic Agreement was ratified alongside the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement and Area Standards Agreement, effective October 1, 2024. 

The Videotape Agreement incorporates many of the Basic Agreement's Pension, Health, CSATF and Artificial Intelligence provisions by reference — just on its own effective-date schedule — so we've put together what you need to know about what's changing and when, including the next wave of changes landing October 4, 2026.

📌 Editor’s Note (September 2026) - What's Changing on October 4, 2026:

  • General wage rates increase 3.5%, up from the 4% increase that took effect September 28, 2025.

  • The Motion Picture Industry Health Plan Premium Rate increases from $14.8875 to $15.7475 per hour, and the Basic Rate (for "$15 Million Contributors") increases from $9.9675 to $10.4175 per hour — the same final-step increases negotiated under the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement, applied here on the Videotape Agreement's own schedule.

  • CSATF contribution rates increase for the second and final time under this contract term (Basic CSATF Rate, Local 871 POC/APOC/Art Coordinator rate, and Local 871 Script Coordinator/Writers' Room Assistant rate).

  • Reality show rates (for shows other than "DIY/How To" or "docu-follow" formats) are rebased to match the then-current Non-Dramatic Program rate, replacing the flat 3% increases used in 2024 and 2025.

Term

October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2027.

Wages

  • General Wage Increases (applies to minimum contract wage rates, except as otherwise provided for certain reality programs):

    • Effective September 29, 2024 - 7% increase

    • Effective September 28, 2025 - 4% increase

    • Effective October 4, 2026 - 3.5% increase

Rates on Certain Reality Programs

Reality shows other than those utilizing a "DIY/How To" or "docu-follow" format are on a separate rate schedule from the standard non-dramatic program rate (which covers talk shows, game shows, awards/red carpet shows, DIY/docu-follow reality shows, etc.):

  • Effective September 29, 2024 - Rates increase an additional 3% before the general wage increase is applied
  • Effective September 28, 2025 - Rates increase an additional 3% before the general wage increase is applied
  • Effective October 4, 2026 - Rates are rebased to match the standard Non-Dramatic Program rate, ending the separate flat 3% adjustment used in the first two contract years

This applies to new series (or new seasons of existing series) for which principal photography of the first episode commences on or after September 29, 2024.

Motion Picture Industry Pension and Health Plan

The Videotape Agreement incorporates the Health Plan contribution rate increases negotiated under the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement, but on its own effective dates (September 29, 2024 / September 28, 2025 / October 4, 2026 rather than August 4, 2024 / August 3, 2025 / August 2, 2026):

  • Premium Rate (Non-"$15 Million Contributors"):

    • Effective September 29, 2024 - Increase from $12.3775 to $14.0275 per hour

    • Effective September 28, 2025 - Increase from $14.0275 to $14.8875 per hour

    • Effective October 4, 2026 - Increase from $14.8875 to $15.7475 per hour

  • Basic Rate ("$15 Million Contributors"):

    • Effective September 29, 2024 - Increase from $8.1275 to $9.5175 per hour

    • Effective September 28, 2025 - Increase from $9.5175 to $9.9675 per hour

    • Effective October 4, 2026 - Increase from $9.9675 to $10.4175 per hour


CSATF Contribution Rate

Also incorporated by reference from the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement, on the Videotape Agreement's own two-step schedule:

  • Basic CSATF Rate:
    • Effective September 29, 2024 - Increase from $0.60 to $0.63 per hour
    • Effective October 4, 2026 - Increase from $0.63 to $0.66 per hour
  • IATSE Local 871 POCs, APOCs, and Art Coordinators:
    • Effective September 29, 2024 - Increase from $0.0920 to $0.0966 per hour
    • Effective October 4, 2026 - Increase from $0.0966 to $0.1012 per hour
  • IATSE Local 871 Script Coordinators and Writers' Room Assistants:
    • Effective September 29, 2024 - Increase from $0.0708 to $0.0743 per hour
    • Effective October 4, 2026 - Increase from $0.0743 to $0.0779 per hour

Golden Hour Provisions (Overtime)

Effective for programs, new mini-series and seasons of series commencing principal photography on or after September 29, 2024: Triple time is now paid for all hours worked in excess of 15 consecutive hours (up from double time after 14 consecutive hours for Daily Employees on the first five days of the workweek; the sixth/seventh-day Golden Hour rate is similarly restructured around the 15-hour threshold).

Rest Period Penalty

Effective for motion pictures, mini-series or episodes of a series commencing principal photography roughly 90 days after ratification (late December 2024): The penalty for invasion of the daily or weekend rest period changes from additional straight time to additional double time. Invasions of one-half hour or less are paid a minimum of one-half hour of additional double time; longer invasions are paid in one-tenth hour increments.

Courtesy Housing

Effective on ratification: Courtesy housing/transportation obligations were expanded and clarified across the studio zone, the New York 30-mile zone, the secondary studio zone (12+ hour threshold), and a newly defined list of "Production Centers" nationwide (including cities such as Atlanta, Albuquerque, New Orleans, Nashville, and the Dallas–Ft. Worth and Houston areas) where employees working 14+ hours must be offered courtesy housing or round-trip transportation.

Distant Location Travel Time

Effective September 29, 2024 - Pension and health contributions on "travel only" days are now based on the employee's actual travel time, with a 4-hour minimum and 8-hour maximum (rather than a flat allowance).

Severance Pay

  • Effective September 29, 2024 - Employees with 12 or more qualified years whose employment is severed receive an additional 25% on top of the applicable severance pay schedule.

  • Effective September 29, 2024 - The "qualified year" threshold is reduced from 200 to 170 work days within a 365-day lookback period (applied prospectively).

Holidays

  • Effective January 1, 2025 - Juneteenth added as a recognized holiday.

  • Effective January 1, 2025 - The unworked holiday accrual percentage increases from 4% to 4.583%.

Paid Sick Leave

  • Effective January 1, 2025 - Maximum accrual increases from 48 hours (6 days) to 80 hours (10 days).
  • Effective January 1, 2025 - The employment period required before an employee may use sick leave is reduced from 90 to 45 days.
  • Effective January 1, 2025 - The bank of sick time an employer may elect to provide in lieu of accrual increases from 24 hours (3 days) to 40 hours (5 days).

Bereavement Leave

Effective September 29, 2024 - Regularly-scheduled employees are allowed up to 3 days of paid bereavement leave in the event of the death of a family member (biological/adopted/foster child, stepchild, legal ward, parent, spouse, domestic partner, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling).

Productions Made for New Media

  • Effective September 29, 2024 - Non-dramatic programs made for SVOD, AVOD, or FAST Channels that are 20+ minutes in length are now covered under the same wage rates, terms and conditions as non-dramatic programs made for free television.

  • Effective September 29, 2024 - New High Budget, Mid Budget and Low Budget AVOD/FAST Channel provisions added, mirroring the thresholds negotiated under the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement.

Artificial Intelligence

Effective September 29, 2024 - The Artificial Intelligence article negotiated under the 2024 IATSE Basic Agreement is incorporated by reference into the Videotape Agreement.

Other Changes

  • A bulletin was issued reminding Producers to provide climate accommodations (heating, cooling, fans, shade) for on- and off-production employees.
  • The grievance and arbitration panels were updated, and the damages limit under the expedited arbitration procedure increased from $15,000 to $25,000.
  • Non-discrimination claims are now subject to non-binding mediation rather than arbitration.

➡️ While here, you can also check the IATSE Basic Agreement Changes And Effective Dates and the IATSE Area Standards Agreement Changes And Effective Dates for other union rate updates that were ratified alongside the Videotape Agreement.

The information in this communication is general in nature and is not intended, nor should it be construed, as legal, accounting, tax, or other professional advice rendered by GreenSlate, LLC. The reader should contact his or her attorney, CPA, or tax professional prior to taking any action based upon this information.