In three short years under MembershipFirst!

 

Financial Stability

An $8 million dollar S.A.G. surplus since 2006

 

Contract gains

»       A Commercials Contract now worth over $800 million dollars

»       More money into pensions leading to higher monthly payments

»       Over 600 completion deals with independent producers

»       Hundreds of new media contracts including residuals and P&H contributions

 

Guild Reorganization and Improvements

»       Creation of Research, New Technology/Media Departments, and the first Organizing Department in history.

 

Actor Services

»       A totally revamped and expanded sag.org     

»       iActor

»       Reestablishment of Members on the MOVE

»       Active and responsive Committees for every acting community:  Performers of Color, Stunts, Background, Commercials, Performers with Disabilities, Voice-Over, Women, Seniors, and the first Interactive Committee in history

»       Residuals delivered to members in 30 days instead of 90

»       Opening of the Actor’s Center

»       Reopening of the Cashier’s Window

 

Transparency

»          Open Hollywood Board Meetings – another first in our union’s history

»          Direct contact with Guild leaders and encouragement of member input and feedback

 

 

Here's what we're working on:

CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS As you know we are in the midst of very tough contract negotiations with the AMPTP representing networks and studios. 

 

AFTRA broke with S.A.G. and, for the first time in 30 years, negotiated a separate contract.

 

The overwhelming majority of working actors knows this contract to be a time bomb which threatens our future livelihood and that’s one of the reasons it was passed by AFTRA’s membership with only a 62.4% approval rate (an historical low.)

 

And this "approval” rate was even lower amongst actors when you consider the fact that  broadcasters, DJ’s, and even radio staff members were encouraged by AFTRA’s leadership to vote up the AFTRA contract.

 

There is a lot that AFTRA negotiators abandoned in their zeal to get to "the finish line” ahead of S.A.G.

 

We will not abandon these issues – they’re too vital to the livelihood of every actor:

 

·     Residuals in new media

·     Jurisdiction on every new media program

·     Higher mileage compensation

·     No French hours

·     No change to force majeure

·     Increases in background coverage (one additional background in TV is NOT enough) Increases for stunt coordinators and the stunt community

·     Protection of compensation for clip usage

 

Once the current TV/Theatrical contract is  completed, there are a number of other contracts which also expire this year and must be renegotiated:

Commercials, Basic Cable, Animation, and Interactive.

 

RUNAWAY PRODUCTION - We must continue the heavy lobbying effort in Los Angeles and Sacramento to create tax incentives to keep production in Hollywood.  UGLY BETTY and IN TREATMENT are just two examples of productions that have left California for New York (where there are generous tax incentives from both New York State and New York City.)

In fact, there are tax incentives in almost every state EXCEPT California.  As a result, production in Los Angeles continues to drop as production continues to rise in states like New York, New Mexico, Louisiana and Michigan.

BACKGROUND ACTORS -   Actors should be able to join the Guild through union work ONLY but NOT through 3 Vouchers.  We are diligently working on
"preference of employment” for background members who are already in the Guild, the way that there is "preference of employment” for principals.

You have shown your faith in us through the last three elections, and we have responded by continuing to solve complex problems. 

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Once again we are asking for your votes. We must keep our majority on the Board in order to finish the important work that we began three years ago and to prevent others who, if elected, would turn back the clock and return the Guild to the days when the Membership was not first – but last on the Guild’s list of priorities.