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There are few rights that should be inviolate. The right to vote is one. There are so few aspects of being an actor that is in our control. Each and every day of our working lives we are, in some way or another, subjected to the whims, opinions and mercy of agents, casting directors, and producers. There is very little we, in our careers as middle class actors, can control or influence.
The right to vote on S.A.G.’s largest contracts is a right that every actor achieves and receives once he/she becomes a member the Guild.
It’s an honor. And it’s a right guaranteed by the S.A.G. constitution.
The right of a SAG member to vote on SAG’s largest contracts is being challenged by a group of actors who, back in February 2008, came together to challenge members voting rights. Headed by actors Ned Vaughn and Amy Brenneman, Working Actors Voices/Unite For Strength, were created based on the belief that too many "hobbiest" were allowed to vote. Supporters of Working Actors Voices/Unite For Strength, including its spokesperson Ned Vaughn, have stated publicly that too may "extras" and "make-up artist" vote on SAG contracts. Working Actors Voices and the majority of candidates on the Unite For Strength slate, believe that if an actor has not worked a certain amount of days within a year, earning a certain amount of money during the past two S.A.G. contract cycles, that right to vote should be revoked.
MembershipFirst believes this form of Qualified Voting is not only unconstitutional, but smacks of elitism.
MembershipFirst understands that any aspect of qualification beyond what is constitutionally mandated, could disproportionately impact thousands of actors, especially members who fall within the protected
groups: seniors, performers of color, woman, and performers with a disability. Since there are statistically fewer job opportunities for our members within these categories, any form of qualifications would unfairly disenfranchise actors who are already, for no fault of their own, disenfranchised.
MembershipFirst believes that all actors in good standing, regardless of their work history or earnings during any particular year, should be able to vote. And we believe that the overwhelming majority of S.A.G. members feel the same way.
MembershipFirst was very public in our disappointment in AFTRA’s campaign to encourage broadcasters and recording artist to vote "yes"
on the AFTRA 2008 Prime-Time Contract. A contract that these particular AFTRA members rarely, if ever work. We believe that due to this aggressive campaign, the contract was, albeit by a slim margin, ratified.
Although the majority of candidates for Unite For Strength publicly supported the ratification of the AFTRA Prime Time Contract, they were virtually missing in action when it came to publicly questioning and/ or challenging AFTRA’s campaign to encourage non actors to vote on one of the largest actors contract. Hypocrisy at it’s finest.
You may have noticed lately that Unite For Strength, a slate which 27 out of their 31 candidates have publicly lent their names to the Qualified Voting Letter of Support, have shied away from the issue.
Working Actors Voices went so far as to alter the name of their quest . They are now calling it Affected Voting, believing that "affected" would ring more politically correct than "qualified".
Working Actors Voices/ Unite For Strength, has even re-worked their levels of qualifiers, believing that a slight change in the days worked/money earned, could make their ultimate goal more palatable .
Don’t be fooled. What guarantees S.A.G. members that the suggested qualifiers Unite For Strength proffers today, won’t become even more selective/restrictive if they gain control of the board in October?
The challenge to YOUR voting rights could be next.
A vote for MembershipFirst is a vote to protect EVERY members constitutional right to VOTE!
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1. Richard Speight, Jr.
3. L. Scott Caldwell
8. Ned Vaughn
9. Tim DeKay
12. .Susan Boyd Joyce
15. Clyde Kusatsu
16. Ken Howard
18. Amy Brenneman
20. Dan Gilvezan
23. Googy Gress
24. Steve Tom
33. Bob Bergen
34. Kate Walsh
36. Gabrielle Carteris
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37. Edoardo Ballerini
40. Morgan Fairchild
42. Adam Arkin
48. William Charlton
51. Mandy Steckelberg
52. Tom Verica
53. Marcia Wallace
54. Ashley Crow
60. Stacey Travis
61. Doug Savant
62. Bill Smitrovich
65. Matt Letscher
75. Dulé Hill
84. John Carroll Lynch
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