Welcome to the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local! As the largest local in the union, we represent members working in Southern California’s Kern, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties as well as Northern Orange County. We pride ourselves on the resources and support we provide to members.
I am honored you re-elected me to lead the Los Angeles Local during this time of great change within our industry, continuing as your SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local president and newly elected national vice president, Los Angeles.
It is a responsibility that I do not take lightly.
We accomplished much in the last two years, and I am happy to say the culture of this union has shifted. Working in conjunction with SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Executive Vice President Linda Powell from New York during the contract negotiations, we have developed a good sisterhood of a team that will serve us well for the upcoming term.
Each and every one of you, with your hopes, dreams and successes, are important to the well-being of this union. And that is exactly why we call it a union.
Young and old, seasoned or just starting, my job is to ensure that the protections and gains made by previous generations continue to help and enrich the lives of our members today, members whose chosen fields are covered here: broadcasters, dancers, background actors, singers, stunt performers, recording artists, voiceover artists, puppeteers and actors among others.
As a body, we must learn how to pivot and evolve with the changing industry landscape to ensure not only a sustainable future for our members’ livelihoods, but for the union itself.
As your leaders, we are currently focused on keeping up with evolving technology and the changes within our industry to expand protections where they are needed.
As the largest local in the union, the strength of our union and local depends on member engagement and activism.
My call to action for all L.A. members is to:
- Be informed; knowledge is power regarding your work and career. L.A. Local committee leaders and staff have spent thousands of hours putting together information, workshops and panels that support SAG-AFTRA members’ careers. Be sure to attend one of the monthly member orientations, led by members for members, which will bring you more awareness about all the benefits, resources and support available to you as a SAG-AFTRA member. There are also many resources available on the website. If you have time, check out the library of videos that can be found at SAG-AFTRA Videos, visit the L.A. Local Resources page which includes all of the ways the Los Angeles community can support you, find information about your contracts through Contract Industry Resources or learn more about the union through the Member Toolkit.
- Get involved. The opportunities to participate are endless. Consider attending events such as panels, workshops and mixers that are created by our amazing L.A. Local committees. Consider joining a committee that creates programming. Consider running for an elected office to help steer the direction of your union. Attend and voice your opinion at wages and working conditions meetings. Whatever works for you will work for us! As we finally relaunch our programming, bookmark Los Angeles Local Events for information regarding upcoming local events and programs. I hope you will be as excited as I am to see our typically robust calendar of programs resume in the coming months.
- Support unionism. The labor movement has seen an unbelievable resurgence of energy and power in our communities. Remember that, as a member of a union, you are a part of that collective strength. We are a proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, California Labor Federation and the L.A. County Federation of Labor. I hope to see you out at job actions and picket lines for our sister unions. I hope you engage in the wages and working conditions process as well as the negotiation process for all of our contracts. That means not just knowing our contracts, but helping to ensure they are enforced!
As we move forward from the strike, I want to encourage each of you to engage with your L.A. Local community. As the picket lines taught us, we are more than just fellow performers: we are family, truly family.
Moving forward together, all good things,
Jodi Long
Los Angeles Local President
Los Angeles Local
Los Angeles
5757 Wilshire Blvd.Los Angeles , California 90036
Office Hours
9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – FridayTo email Serena Kung, Executive Director of Los Angeles Local