SAG-AFTRA’s National Board has unanimously voted to ratify the tentative agreement for the first-ever Intimacy Coordinator contract. For those of us who have watched this profession grow through care, rigor, and a lot of behind-the-scenes labor, this moment lands with real weight.
This agreement creates a collective bargaining framework for Intimacy Coordinators working in scripted television, theatrical, and streaming productions. It is also a clear signal: Intimacy Coordination is not an “extra.” It is a department with responsibilities, expertise, and labor that deserves the same structural protections other workers in our industry rely on.
When it takes effect
The agreement goes into effect February 22, 2026 for new pictures and new seasons that begin principal photography after that date.
That timing gives the industry a concrete start line for implementation, and it gives Intimacy Coordinators and production teams space to prepare for what changes on paper and how it shows up on set.
What’s Included:
While the full agreement is best read in its original form, here are the high-level changes that stand out most for working Intimacy Coordinators and the productions that hire them:
Contributions to and participation in the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan, SAG-Producers Pension Plan, and AFTRA Retirement Fund for the first time on the same terms as found in the Codified Basic Agreement and Television Agreement.
Guaranteed daily and weekly minimum rates that will increase annually at the same rate as the Codified Basic Agreement and Television Agreement.
Overtime provisions for work in excess of 8 hours in a day and 40 hours in a week.
Guaranteed access to final nudity/simulated sex riders, studio guidelines for nudity/simulated sex scenes, and visual access to the performance of such scenes.
Additional protections including travel provisions and per diem when working at an overnight location, late payment liquidated damages, and meal breaks.
(SAG-AFTRA; December 18, 2025)
Taken together, these gains speak to something bigger than individual line items. They speak to career sustainability. They reflect a shift from “figuring it out as we go” toward a shared baseline of protections that makes the work safer, fairer, and more consistent across productions.
Why this matters beyond Intimacy Coordinators
This agreement is not only about the people doing the work. It is also about the performers and creative teams we support.
When Intimacy Coordinators have predictable working conditions, access to the right materials, and basic labor protections, we are better positioned to do what the role demands: build trust, support consent-forward collaboration, and help scenes land with clarity instead of chaos. Strong labor standards support strong storytelling.
What happens next
An information meeting for Intimacy Coordinators will be held January 8, 2026. If you are working as an Intimacy Coordinator, or you are a producer, director, or department head who partners with ICs, pay attention to the rollout details. Implementation is where agreements become lived reality.
A CINTIMA note of pride and gratitude
We are also incredibly proud of CINTIMA Co-Founder Yehuda Duenyas, who served as the LA Chair in the negotiations. This agreement is the result of years of organizing and a lot of unseen labor by Intimacy Coordinators across the industry. Thank you to everyone who has dedicated their time and persistence toward making this happen.
If you want to read the official announcement in full, click here to read the full SAG-AFTRA statement
