Collective agreements

 

Every member of The Swedish Playwrights’ Union is covered by the collective agreements negotiated by the Union. The Union negotiates agreements concerning dramatic writing for the stage, for radio, television and film.

In the field of theatre, the Union’s agreements are negotiated with the organization, Swedish Performing Arts. All of the Swedish state and municipal theatres are included in these agreements when they produce plays or translations of plays written by Union members. The agreement specifies tariffs for work according to the extent and the length in time that the production rights are granted. There are specific rules for musical theatre, rough manuscripts and short plays. Translations are also included in collective agreements.

For The Radio Theatre, agreements are made between our Union and The Employers Association of Swedish Public Broadcasting Companies (SRAO). These cover all types of radio drama. The Swedish Public Radio uses it’s own contract. The agreement specifies tariffs based on running time, which are divided into compensation for the manuscript production and compensation for play on the radio. Translations, adaptations and sketches have their own tariffs and regulations. The use of radio drama in other media is also regulated in these agreements.

Likewise, negotiations with The Employers Association of Swedish Public Broadcasting Companies (SRAO) regulate the use of scripts by Union members in all Swedish National Television production including Utbildnings Radio (educational television).  Compensation is regulated through minimum tariffs and take in factors such as series inclusion. The basic compensation concerns script production only, with added compensation for a license period of thirty days. During this thirty-day license period, the Swedish Television enjoys unlimited use of the work on all its platforms and websites. There are additional regulations concerning compensation in the event of re-sale to other channels or countries.

MIA, The Swedish Media Employer’s Association, negotiate with the Union of Playwrights the so called MIA agreement, stipulating contractual terms for our members who write for commercial channels TV4 and Channel Five. At the moment there is no valid agreement between the parts, the previous agreement having been nullified, but new contract negotiations are underway. For the present we are conducting individual negotiations for all members writing contracts with MIA.

The TV4 agreement regulates contracts between members and TV4 concerning programs aired on their channels. This agreement includes compensation for airing in the form of a license period including the public airing of short segments. Compensation for manuscript production is not part of the TV4 agreement but is regulated in contract with the program’s producer.