NEW YORK — Brighthouse Financial, a major insurance and investment company established by MetLife, utilized ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) to film a commercial in New York and New Jersey this week in which BBH paid performers–mostly senior citizens–non-union wages. BBH is the subject of an ongoing strike by SAG-AFTRA. The ad agency has been signed to the union’s Commercials Contracts for almost 20 years but now claims the union agreement doesn’t apply to them.
“If Brighthouse Financial stands by their mission to help people achieve financial security, then why are they working through BBH?” asked SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “Brighthouse is effectively depriving actors of a living wage and health benefits that help support their families.”
“Performers achieve health benefits and financial security through SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreements,” explained SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. “However, the actors that worked on this shoot are further from achieving financial security. Brighthouse has $217 billion in assets and $83 billion in investments. They profit by using these actors’ performances. They can afford to utilize companies that treat actors with respect and pay the same rates that other companies pay for the same work.”
SAG-AFTRA members have been instructed not to accept any work for BBH, which is illegally attempting to abandon its union contract and evade its responsibility to always shoot union commercials, pay fair wages, contribute to performers’ pension and health benefits, guarantee safe sets and commit to the responsible and respectful use of performers’ images, voices and performances.
To date, SAG-AFTRA’s strike against BBH has received a massive outpouring of support from performers nationwide and other national and international unions such as the Actors’ Equity Association, ACTRA, Local 52, Motion Picture Studio Mechanics, IATSE, Local 161, Script Supervisors, IATSE, Local 600, International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE, Local 802, American Federation of Musicians (AFM), IATSE, Local 817, International Brotherhood of Theatrical Teamsters (IBT), Local 829 United Scenic Artists, IATSE, Writers Guild of America, East (WGA East).
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.