This was to be published in the SAG-AFTRA Newsletter in early July...prior to July 4th...however that newsletter has yet to be published on-line and I have been gien severe limitations on length and content for what does get published...so here it is the original intended Summer Newsletter Letter from National Board Director Art Lynch (not approved by or endorsed by the union)... Brothers and Sisters of the Nevada Local of SAG-AFTRA Much has changed with the merger of two unions. Communication has been channeled in far more restrictive and limited channels, with fewer newsletters and arbitrary length requirements no direct submissions to you as members from your board member via email or any other method, fewer membership meetings, greatly reduced budgets for meetings and events, the loss of our local executive and local office, a decrease in ground level organizing and presence by trained staff... But, as with other unions, the reality is the union is real and is here. You need to step up to the plate and fight for what you believe in...more jobs, better pay and the return of services cut when the merged union finances were evaluated at a far lower level than projected prior to merger. Start with approval of the contract before you...which will be mailed later this month (July). We will have a raise in pay, unified contracts and the stronger national union merger promised in the first ever theatrical / TV contract as a new union; SAG-AFTRA. Background talent is of vital importance to the union, and an issue of focus by our industry. National Executive Director David White made a point of giving permission to let the background community know that because we are of importance to management, they are of priority for SAG-AFTRA as a union. The contract will be sent to you for your consideration. It passed the new National Board of Directors with a 90% recommendation for approval. The contract helps solidify SAG-AFTRA as one strong union, the largest in the information and entertainment community, together for the first theatrical, television and related contracts as a new union. As such it contains gains that are significant, including a unification of contracts, raises in wages (the largest for background talent), and other key gains. New Contract Agreement Brings Gains “Unifying the legacy SAG and AFTRA contracts was essential and I am very pleased that we were able to achieve that,” SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard announced on Thursday, “As important, we have established an industry-wide, basic cable agreement – something we have wanted for two decades. We’ve also secured a very competitive wage package for members and a large bump in our pension, health and retirement contributions.” We have a raise coming...Minimums will see a 2.5% wage gain in the first year, followed by 3% annual wage increases in the next two years. “The deal also calls for improved terms and conditions and full television rate minimums for productions made for subscription video on demand (SVOD) services such as Netflix, Hulu Plus and similar platforms.” We are merging two very different cultures, ways of doing things and even business models and methods and that takes years and hard work by members of both sides, and agreements with management, the government and other bodies (as needed). We have come a long way in two short years. . The AMPTP issued a statement after the union put out its message: “We are pleased to have reached a tentative agreement with SAG-AFTRA for theatrical, television and new media production. This deal memorializes our partnership with the new union as we worked together to forge a new unified television agreement. The entire industry gains the assurance of a third and final agreement with the above-the-line unions. We congratulate SAG-AFTRA President Ken Howard, National Executive Director David White, Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez and all of the members of the SAG-AFTRA Bargaining Committee on a successful negotiation.” While it does not contain what I, or many of you may have wanted to see, it is a solid foundation and a start of the strength of our union in an ever changing and highly anti-union marketplace. Read the contract, and arguments both in the package and online, and make your own choices on how to vote. It is important that you vote and return your ballot to show the strength in numbers our union represents. SAG-AFTRA has to offer… Are you taking advantage of the benefits of being union? Safety in the work place Timely payment Fair basic wages Legal protections Contract protections The Nevada SAG Conservatory Discounts at local and national vendors Access to a credit union that understands you Access to conferences, videos and services Discounts on industry related conventions and events SAG Foundation events and services AFTRA Foundation events and services Opportunities to showcase and be critiqued by casting directors Union benefits from SAG-AFTRA, Benefits and discounts through Union Plus and the AFL-CIO Professional Pride And this is just the beginning. The first weekend of September is Labor Day Weekend. Please join me that weekend in posting, calling and letting the world know your union pride. Be union proud, and union active. It is up to us as members to build local work, wean non-union low budget producers off the anti-union bottle to grow up and use qualified professional union talent in our market, and to continue to let Hollywood know how much we value and want to see the return of an office and a local executive with boots on the ground in Nevada. We have lost a great deal over the past two years, a price paid for the solidarity of a stronger national union. Merger was a big win at the cost of our office, executive and much of our position in the constitutional structure of our union We need to let our union know that we are part of the reason it exist and are a vital part of its heart, blood and muscle system. Get active. Let your voice be heard. We are the union. While we do not have the frequent events and meeting we have had under better financial times for our union, there has been ample work on films and television to begin to make up for what we lost during the recession. Another hit movie at the box office that was filmed here will do nothing but help future location production for our city, our state and our membership. I have been honored to work under SAG Contract in numerous roles over the past year and a half, including a lead in an ultra low budget film. While listed, I found myself too large a man (physically) or too old for the many calls that went out for background at times when I was available for work, but those too will come. We are merging two very different cultures, ways of doing things and even business models and methods and that takes years and hard work by members of both sides, and agreements with management, the government and other bodies (as needed). We have come a long way in two short years. Happy Fourth of July I hope you had a safe and joyful celebration of out nation on July 4th. I have been and will continue to use my education and experience to represent all of us in the complexities and politics of the SAG-AFTRA National Board Pride and responsibility When I joined Screen Actors Guild many years ago, I did it with pride and with the knowledge that I was closing the door on a lucrative non-union income as an actor, voice artist and background talent. It cost me more than the initiation fee, but being from a proud union family going back generations, I did it with pride. I felt the same way with the Screen Extras Guild and AFTRA. Joining and sticking to Rule One is even more difficult given that we live in a right-to-work state. We all make sacrifices by sticking to our beliefs and proudly being union. But it is worth the price. By sticking to our guns, we make it possible for the Guild to maintain our level of union work, and over time to grow new work. We need to organize this marketplace. It takes all of you, as members, for us to be successful and end the flow of union work to non-union talent. We have no direct paid executive, only someone to help in emergencies or contract infractions out of Denver. We no longer have an office. The office and the staff are you, in a very big way. All of us, as members, need to encourage all qualified pre-union talent to join our ranks. If we do not, then the qualified Taft-Hartley pool will grow instead and make it increasingly difficult for our union to organize union work for all of us, as members. We, as members of Screen Actors Guild in a “right-to-work for less and be terminated at will” state, are at the forefront of the battle for unionism in our country. We are the front line troops who need to stand firm, proud to sell the benefits of being union to all those around us. Thank you for being a part of that fight. Be helpful in a pro-union way, not confrontational When it is time for confrontation, or our rights and pay are at stake, we have paid staff in Los Angeles, New York City, Denver and elsewhere who will come in to be our champions. They are trained in labor law, know how to build relationships with employers, and have the major business and legal muscle of the union behind them. You can and should sell the benefits and, above all, show your talent! No matter what they say you can audition for non-union projects…and once you have won the over you must have a union contract to do the work. Be honest and upfront as you audition; do not hide your union membership. You may talk with and get to know non-union talent, directors, producers and companies and create a very positive and talented perspective of who we are as a talent. The contracts that make it easy and affordable are in place to be easily used. Do not let them use the “we cannot afford union” excuse without guiding them to how and where to make it possible to hire you and other union talent easily and effectively. You may call upon union staff for support when you need it. Producers pay your or your work for experience and tape until you have enough of both. You may take part in workshops, pay for demo reel production, pay for headshots and other business tools and look upon it as the opportunity to learn and grow and invest in yourself. But never pay to audition or pay to be in a production. Just remember that marketing people everywhere will break rules because they do not know better. So instead of confronting them, suggest the reconsider how they market their product and the value of their services to talent who also believe in professionalism, their union and the need to protect others from being perceived as being “ripped off”. In other words, help them to provide their services in ways that so not put up red flags or take undue advantage of talent. You would be surprised what you can attract with a little bit of sugar. On classes or any service, audit is my advice and do not look at the video as part of the package, just something you may want to do for experience and tape. Full disclosure, I teach at one local company and have my own company offering services but not casting or employment for actors. My primary income is from teaching college and professionals, and my primary profession remains, as always, acting. Never pay to audition, or to be in cast...even as a producer yourself. If you are a producer you want the best talent and if you honestly think it is you, after seeing a shrink, then cast yourself. Change and growth. This is a new union, with a new structure that is still being refined, adjusted and altered to meet the needs of the membership, of all of us. We are now two years into a new union. The union is not SAG or AFTRA, but a hybrid tailored to meet the needs of the new world of merging media and technologies. We are entering our first commercial negotiations as a new union, and have already gained valuable ground in the areas of commercials music video, dance and organizing. We are set to meet the goals of unifying contracts, with a raise and expansion of jurisdiction under the Theatrical/TV and related contracts. The future will take work, by all of us, in ways that SAG along did not demand. The new union has elements of both SAG and AFTRA. As we were a SAG “only” Legacy Branch, much of the structure and policies are new to Nevada. SAG-AFTRA is a union. Many want to pretend otherwise, but look into history and you will see that both unions, who merged earlier this year, were begun as just that, unions. We have over 80 years of history of being a part of and standing up for the rights of all workers. Whenever non-union, pre-union on “SAG eligible” talent works they are taking away from the pockets of and food on the table of union performers. Since they can work both union and non-union, they can earn union pay and benefits under hard fought union contracts while supporting potential employers who use the available “trained talent pool” as an excuse to not use SAG-AFTRA members. Right to Work is Theft As one columnist put it, “Right-to-Work is theft.” Can I walk into your country club and use all the services without paying, while you as a member have to pay for that membership and those services. Non-union talent can work without having to join the union, gaining all the benefits we have earned over the years. Can I get a lawyer or doctor who does non-union commercials to give me their services for less than they claim they are worth? How long would that doctor, lawyer or country club stay in business if they gave it all away for free? In a right to work state non-union talent does not have to pay initiation or dues to gain the full benefits of union work. As members of the largest entertainment union in the world, you are a part of this battle whether you like it or not. Your future income and that of all talent is at stake. Support politicians who will vote against Right-to-work. Get active in AFL-CIO and other battles to undo this unfair legislation. Turn down non-union work. Report members who work “off the card.” Let your voice be heard, It’s our union. SAG-AFTRA online. The address to remember and use frequently is sagaftra.org/ Both the SAG and the AFTRA websites remain active for members information and contracts. Meanwhile the new SAG-AFTRA site provides information on the new union and will expand as the contracts merge and the organization continues its process of morphing into the industries largest entertainment union. There are constant event, news and services updates to discover as well as history, basic rules, reports and features stories to uncover. SAGINDIE, the SAG Foundation and other sites remain active as a resource for members and producers alike. We live in an age where informational, in the form of videos, audio, web and print, are at our fingertips. SAG-AFTRA is no exception. Explore and use these sites. You will find you will be glad you did! The Future We face a bright future, going into each contract as one union instead of two. We bring the strength of the largest union in the industry, made up of a wide range of professionals in multiple areas of this increasingly monolithic industry. We join others in fighting the strong anti-union forces gaining strength and eroding the ability of all of us to organize to earn fair wages, safe working conditions and strong futures doing what we are skilled at and love doing. We are prepared for the growing power on the other side of the negotiating table, the merging of technologies, the change and growth of where and how we work and how we earn our income as actors and performers. We are SAG-AFTRA, the union for the future. Be proud and join me in being thankful this holiday season that we finally have joined into one unified force for all members, and for all future performers. Solidarity; Art Lynch National Board Director, Nevada *Not an official transmission and not approved in the form above, this was written in June for distribution prior to the forth or July, but was never sent to membership. A much shorter and rewritten version is set for release in September).
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 20:22:05 +0000
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