CARES Act Advocacy Bears Fruit

Many members have received stimulus checks and expanded unemployment benefits due to the passage of the CARES Act by Congress in late March. This is the $2.2 trillion relief bill that your union’s government affairs staff helped shape in concert with our allies in Congress — and it’s just one example of the lobbying the union has been undertaking on behalf of members during the COVID crisis.

SAG-AFTRA members, as well as members of other industry unions, stepped up in a big way to assist with phone calls and emails to make sure entertainment industry workers would not be left behind.

Among the notable benefits for SAG-AFTRA members are increased maximum unemployment benefit by $600 per week through July 31 and extended unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks.

SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and National Executive Director David White hosted podcast episodes about the federal relief efforts featuring Rep. Adam Schiff of California’s 28th Congressional District and the National Employment Law Project’s Government Affairs Director Judy Conti. On May 12, SAG-AFTRA and IATSE hosted a virtual town hall with Schiff answering member questions.

Carteris recalled that in a conversation with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about the legislation, Pelosi noted that the work of our members offers relief to those sheltering at home. They are finding comfort in our movies, TV shows, music and news. It is our broadcast members who are on the frontlines with first responders reporting the news and keeping our country informed. She acknowledged that fact and added that it will be our members who will inspire and give hope when this pandemic is over.

Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, along with allied unions, are now focusing on the next series of state and federal relief bills. They are pushing to make sure members who have W-2 and 1099 income — so-called “mixed income” —can use the combined total to access maximum unemployment benefits; working to ensure the stability and funding of the defined benefit pensions; and urging 36-month eligibility for, and 100% subsidizing of, COBRA benefits.

This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2020.