The agreement, which affects IATSE members who travel with live attractions, began Jan. 1, 2010, and will continue through Dec. 31, 2012. The IATSE General Executive Board unanimously ratified the new contract.

The new agreement, according to an IATSE press statement, "incorporates meaningful economic improvements in wages, conditions and benefits for workers in full and modified pink contracts and creates new conditions for qualifying short Engagement Tours. Most notably, there is a significant increase in the contribution rate to the health plan during the term of the contract. Additional contributions will also be made to the Annuity Plan to bolster retirement benefits."

IATSE President Matthew Loeb said in a statement, "Protecting the health plans for members was a major priority in these negotiations. We achieved that goal which is a cornerstone in providing security to those who travel under the road agreement."

Gains were made in other areas, including "compensation for use of a live performance in other media (such as television). A number of changes were also agreed upon that will, for the first time, provide traditional contract protections such as scope and recognition, union security, grievance and arbitration and minimum conditions provisions."

* IATSE is one of the largest entertainment labor unions in the world and "represents over 110,000 technicians, artisans and craftspeople employed in stagecraft, motion picture and television production, the trade show industry, and affiliated crafts throughout the United States, Its Territories and Canada." Visit www.iatse-intl.org.