Guilds & agreements
A union is the same shape as a licence or a clearance — a named body, an entry route, a fee, and rules about who may work. Here is who each one actually binds, how you get in, and the things nobody tells you before you walk into a room.
Before you pitch
Written for film and television, though most of it applies anywhere somebody describes an unmade thing to a person who could pay for it.
- 1
You do not need to be a member to pitch or sell
The guild agreement binds signatory companies, not writers. Non-members pitch and sell material routinely; membership becomes due once you are employed or make a covered sale. Waiting to join before you pitch is waiting for a door that opens from the other side.
- 2
An idea is not protectable. Its expression is
Copyright covers the particular way something is written, not the premise underneath it. Two people can write the same concept and both own their scripts. A logline is not property.
17 U.S.C. §102(b) excludes ideas, procedures and concepts from copyright protection.
- 3
But a pitch can still create an obligation
In California, disclosing an idea in circumstances where both sides understand payment is expected if it is used can create an implied contract — separate from copyright, and the reason pitching is not simply giving work away. It depends heavily on the circumstances of the meeting, which is why what you say when you walk in matters.
The Desny v. Wilder line of California cases.
- 4
Guild registration is not copyright registration
The WGA registry creates a dated record that you had a document on a date. It is evidence, not title. Registering with the US Copyright Office is a different act — and for US works it is generally a prerequisite to filing an infringement suit at all.
- 5
Read the submission release before you sign it
Studios and production companies frequently require one before they will accept material. They commonly acknowledge that similar ideas may already be in development and limit what you can later claim. Signing may be the price of the meeting; signing without reading is a different decision.
- 6
An option is not a sale, and a shopping agreement is neither
An option buys a time-limited exclusive right to purchase later, for a fee, against an agreed price. A shopping agreement lets someone take your material out without paying for the right to. Know which one is on the table, what it pays, and how long it ties the work up.
- 7
Strike exposure is a calendar, not a mood
Guild agreements run on roughly three-year cycles with published expiry dates. Work stoppages cluster around them, and so do the freezes that precede them — buyers stop committing months before a deadline. Check the current term against the guild directly before you plan a push.
This is not legal advice. Every point above is a well-established principle you can take to a lawyer — it is not a substitute for asking one, and the implied-contract point in particular turns on the specific circumstances of a meeting.
The bodies
Grouped because they are not the same animal. An entertainment guild negotiates one national agreement that binds every signatory. A building-trades union negotiates per local — the rate and the settlement date in Baltimore are different from Los Angeles, so a national figure would be wrong everywhere. And the way in differs just as much: one is credits and covered earnings, the other is a paid apprenticeship.
Building trades
You are paid to train. Terms are set by your local.
IBEW
International Brotherhood of Electrical WorkersUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Electrical work, split into branches that are effectively different trades: inside wiremen (commercial and industrial buildings), outside linemen (utility distribution and transmission), residential, and low-voltage or VDV.
- How you get in
- Through a local's apprenticeship, run jointly with the local NECA chapter. Intake is periodic rather than rolling — most locals open applications on a set schedule, and missing the window means waiting for the next one. Some accept experienced electricians directly through an organising or licence-transfer route.
- The paid route in
- 5 years, earning from day one — usually 40–50% of the journeyworker rate, stepping up on schedule. Classroom instruction alongside paid work on job sites. There is no tuition to the apprentice in the standard joint programme — the model is the inverse of every option on the Get Help page.
- What it provides
- A negotiated wage scale for the local, not an individual negotiation
- Health and pension contributions paid per hour worked
- Portability of hours between signatory contractors
- The apprenticeship itself, which is the training and the job at once
Where the terms are set
Bargained local by local against the area NECA chapter, so terms, rates and settlement dates differ by city. Ask your local, not the international — a national figure would be wrong everywhere.
www.ibew.org →UA
United Association of Plumbers and PipefittersUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Plumbing, pipefitting, steamfitting, sprinkler fitting, and HVAC service. The service branch is the one most people underestimate — it is year-round maintenance work rather than project work, and it behaves differently in a downturn.
- How you get in
- A local apprenticeship, or direct entry for licensed tradespeople through an organising route. Military veterans have a dedicated programme.
- The paid route in
- 5 years, earning from day one — a set percentage of scale, rising each year. Paid work plus required classroom hours. Tuition is carried by the joint programme.
- What it provides
- Area wage scale and benefit contributions
- Certification and continuing training after the apprenticeship, which is where the service branch pays
- Hours portability between signatory employers
Where the terms are set
Local agreements with area mechanical contractors' associations. Rates and terms are set locally.
www.ua.org →UBC
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of AmericaUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Carpentry, and several crafts most people would not file under it: millwrights, pile drivers, floor layers and interior systems.
- How you get in
- Through a regional council's training centre and apprenticeship.
- The paid route in
- 4 years, earning from day one — a percentage of scale that steps up with hours worked and classes completed. Progression is tied to hours on the job, not to the calendar alone.
- What it provides
- Council-negotiated scale and benefits
- Training centre access, including the millwright and pile-driving specialisms
Where the terms are set
Bargained by regional councils. Terms vary by region.
www.carpenters.org →IUOE
International Union of Operating EngineersUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Heavy equipment operators on construction sites, and — a separate branch entirely — stationary engineers who run the mechanical plant inside large buildings. The second is indoor, year-round work and is rarely what people picture.
- How you get in
- Local apprenticeship, with separate programmes for the hoisting and stationary branches.
- The paid route in
- 4 years, earning from day one — a percentage of the operator scale. Seat time on machines is the constraint, so intake tracks the number of training places rather than demand.
- What it provides
- Local wage scale and benefit contributions
- Certification on specific machines, which is what actually transfers between employers
Where the terms are set
Local agreements with area contractors. Rates differ sharply by market.
www.iuoe.org →LIUNA
Laborers' International Union of North AmericaUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Construction craft labourers across nearly every site trade — excavation, concrete, demolition, hazardous materials, and pipeline work.
- How you get in
- Through a local or regional training fund. Entry requirements are the lowest of the building trades, which makes it the most common first door into unionised construction.
- The paid route in
- 2 years, earning from day one — a percentage of the labourer scale. Shorter than the mechanical trades, and often the route people use to get onto sites before moving into a longer apprenticeship elsewhere.
- What it provides
- Area scale and benefits
- Certifications — hazmat, confined space, scaffold — that raise the rate specifically
Where the terms are set
Local and regional agreements. Terms vary by area.
www.liuna.org →SMART
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation WorkersUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Two very different halves: the sheet metal and HVAC construction trade, and a transportation division representing rail workers. They share a name and almost nothing else.
- How you get in
- Local apprenticeship for the sheet metal side; the rail division organises differently.
- The paid route in
- 5 years, earning from day one — a percentage of scale, stepping up. Detailing and fabrication work has moved substantially to software, so the classroom half now includes it.
- What it provides
- Local scale and benefits
- Testing and certification in air balancing and welding
Where the terms are set
Sheet metal locals bargain with area SMACNA chapters; rail bargains separately.
smart-union.org →Industrial and transport
No apprenticeship gate — representation comes with the job.
IBT
International Brotherhood of TeamstersUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Freight, parcel, warehousing and delivery, plus a long tail of other sectors. The parcel and freight agreements are national; much of the rest is local.
- How you get in
- By being hired into a represented workplace, or by organising one. There is no apprenticeship gate — this is the main structural difference from the building trades.
- What it provides
- A national master agreement in the largest units, with local supplements on top
- Grievance procedure and just-cause protection against dismissal
- Seniority rules governing routes, shifts and bidding
UPS National Master Agreement~5-year cycle · last settled 2023
Reached after a strike authorisation vote and without a strike. Covers a very large single private-sector unit in the US.
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2023 puts a renegotiation window around 2028 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
teamster.org →Entertainment
One national agreement; membership follows covered work.
WGA
Writers Guild of AmericaUnited States (West and East branches)
- Who it binds
- Writers employed by signatory companies on film, television and, since 2023, covered streaming work. It binds the employer, not the writer — which is why a non-member can sell material.
- How you get in
- Membership follows employment, not the other way round. Units are earned by selling or being hired on a signatory project; the initiation fee falls due once you qualify.
- What it provides
- Minimum compensation floors per format
- Residuals on reuse, including streaming
- Pension and health contributions paid by the employer
- Credit arbitration — a neutral process for who gets named on screen
- Script registration (a dated record, not a copyright)
Minimum Basic Agreement (MBA)~3-year cycle · last settled 2023
Settled after a 148-day strike, the second longest in the guild's history.
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2023 puts a renegotiation window around 2026 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
www.wga.org →SAG-AFTRA
Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio ArtistsUnited States
- Who it binds
- Performers on signatory film, television, streaming, commercial and interactive productions.
- How you get in
- Eligibility through a principal role under a signatory contract, or through accumulated background work. Joining is a one-time initiation fee plus dues on covered earnings.
- What it provides
- Minimum rates per performer category
- Residuals
- Pension and health contributions
- Rules on self-taped auditions, nudity and intimacy coordination
- Consent and compensation terms for digital replicas
TV/Theatrical Contracts~3-year cycle · last settled 2023
Settled after a 118-day strike that overlapped the WGA's.
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2023 puts a renegotiation window around 2026 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
Commercials Contract~3-year cycle · last settled 2025
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2025 puts a renegotiation window around 2028 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
www.sagaftra.org →DGA
Directors Guild of AmericaUnited States
- Who it binds
- Directors and the directorial team — unit production managers, first and second assistant directors.
- How you get in
- Employment on a signatory production, or the qualification list for assistant director roles. The initiation fee is substantial and due on joining.
- What it provides
- Minimums and working conditions
- Residuals
- Pension and health
- Creative rights, including the director's cut
Basic Agreement~3-year cycle · last settled 2023
Settled without a strike; the DGA has historically negotiated ahead of the other guilds.
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2023 puts a renegotiation window around 2026 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
www.dga.org →IATSE
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage EmployeesUnited States and Canada
- Who it binds
- Crew — camera, grip, electric, art, wardrobe, hair and make-up, editorial, sound, and stage.
- How you get in
- Through a local, usually via accumulated days on covered productions. Each local sets its own roster rules.
- What it provides
- Minimums by classification
- Turnaround and meal-penalty rules
- Pension and health
- Safety standards on set
Basic Agreement~3-year cycle · last settled 2024
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2024 puts a renegotiation window around 2027 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
Area Standards Agreement~3-year cycle · last settled 2024
Current expiry not verified here. A three-year cycle from 2024 puts a renegotiation window around 2027 — confirm the exact date with the guild before planning around it.
iatse.net →NIL agreements
The other kind of deal a performer signs — and not a collective agreement, which is the first thing to get right. A guild agreement is negotiated for you by a body you belong to and sets a floor nobody can go under. An NIL deal is a private contract you negotiate alone: no floor, no scale, and nobody checking the terms but you.
There are no rules quoted here on purpose. The NIL rulebook has been rewritten repeatedly since 2021 and is still moving — state statutes, conference rules, school policy and NCAA rules all apply at once and none of them is stable. Anything specific this page printed would be out of date before it was read. What follows is the structure, which has not changed, and the traps, which have not either.
What the deals usually are
Social posts and content
A set number of posts promoting a brand, usually with approval rights and required disclosure.
Watch Count the deliverables and the revisions. 'Posts as needed' is unbounded work for a fixed fee, and approval rounds are where the hours actually go.
Appearances, camps and autograph sessions
Paid time at an event, a clinic or a signing.
Watch Travel, hours and who pays expenses. Also whether the fee is per appearance or a season's worth for one number.
Licensing and merchandise
Use of your name or likeness on a product, usually for a royalty or a flat fee.
Watch Term and territory. A licence that runs in perpetuity, or that survives after you turn professional, is the single most expensive clause in this category.
Collective agreements
A booster-funded entity pools money and contracts with athletes, often for appearances or charity work.
Watch What the deliverable actually is. A collective deal with no real obligation attached is the shape regulators look at hardest.
Before you sign
This is self-employment income, and nobody is withholding tax
NIL pay generally arrives as 1099 income with nothing taken out. That means quarterly estimated payments, self-employment tax on top of income tax, and a bill that arrives long after the money is spent. Set aside a share of every payment from the first one, and if the money is meaningful, get an accountant before the season rather than after it.
Eligibility rules are separate from contract law, and they move
A deal can be perfectly enforceable and still cost you eligibility. The lines around pay-for-play and recruiting inducements have been redrawn repeatedly since 2021 and are still being litigated. Run every deal past your compliance office before signing — that is what the office is for, and it is free.
An exclusive is worth money, so charge for it
Category exclusivity locks you out of every competitor for the term. It is a real thing to sell, but a first deal that quietly takes exclusivity in a broad category can block the larger one that comes later. Narrow the category and shorten the term.
Check it against your school's own sponsors
Schools and conferences have their own apparel and beverage deals, and appearing in conflicting branding — in facilities, in uniform, or at team events — is usually restricted. This trips people up on deals that were otherwise fine.
If you are on a student visa, stop and get advice first
F-1 status sharply restricts work performed in the United States, and NIL activity can count. This is the trap with the worst consequences on this list, and it is not one a compliance office alone can answer — it needs an immigration adviser.
Immigration status is federal and independent of any athletics rule.
An agent for NIL is not the same as an agent for a pro contract
Many states require anyone representing an athlete to register, and the certification that matters for a professional playing contract is a different one entirely. Ask which they hold, ask what they take, and get the percentage and the term in writing before they pitch anything.
Read the term, and read what happens when you leave
Transfers and turning professional both happen. A deal that continues to bind you after either — or that grants rights that outlive the relationship — is the difference between an endorsement and a claim on your future.
Not legal, tax or eligibility advice. Every item above is a well-established issue you can take to somebody qualified — and for anything touching eligibility, your compliance office is free and is the one that counts.
Why no expiry dates
When the current agreement runs out is the most useful thing this page could carry, and the most dangerous thing to get wrong — a stale date shown as current turns “I should check” into false confidence, at exactly the moment somebody is committing months of work. The 2023 settlements ran roughly three-year terms, which places their renegotiations around now. So the page carries what is stable — the cycle and the last settlement, both history — and sends you to the guild for the rest. Dates go in when someone verifies them against the source and records the day they did.
Union coverage on individual postings is not modelled yet — most listings never say. How the numbers work
