Fast Forward

Gabrielle Carteris was re-elected on Aug. 29 to serve a second two-year term as SAG-AFTRA president. Since assuming the post as the union’s top officer, she has spearheaded the fight to change the culture that permits sexual harassment to continue in the entertainment and media industry.

Other major initiatives under her leadership have been the campaign to recapture commercial work, protect members’ images from “deepfake” technology and keep the union ahead of the curve as technology changes the way the industry works.

At the start of her new term, Carteris discusses her priorities, accomplishments and the road ahead.

Which accomplishments are you proudest of during your union service?

I love working with the members; that, for me, has been one of the most rewarding experiences. I’m also proud of the merger, the work we’re doing to fight sexual harassment, and the legislation we’ve put forward to protect our members’ images, as well as protecting them as creators.

Another focus for me was strong contracts. The landmark Commercials Contracts that resulted from the negotiations that I chaired reflect an innovative, proactive approach that we can use in future negotiations.

Also, organizing Telemundo was very meaningful. We had a whole workforce that was being undervalued and working in substandard conditions, and now they have health and pension contributions and wage minimums.

How do you plan to further your goals to change the culture surrounding sexual harassment?

When it first came up two years ago, I said to everybody that we have to be methodical in order to make systemic changes. It’s not just about focusing on the changes we’re setting out to make, but understanding that we can never stop.

I am very excited about our work with intimacy coordinators and the idea that we are creating safer spaces for our members. We are creating a program that doesn’t just talk about people’s rights, but actually gives them a voice. I’m going to continue on that quest in order to develop the tools we need to feel safe and protected when we work.

What are your priorities for your current term?

Strong contracts will be paramount. These next couple of years will be all about expanding our dialogue with the studios and employers.

Also, emphasizing inclusion on all levels is a priority so that members, including those with disabilities, people of color, women — all the underrepresented groups — have the opportunity to work.

Additionally, we want to position the union on the cutting edge of tech. I really want to focus on the developing technologies that will impact our members. I want more partnerships with leaders in the tech industry, because I think we can work in tandem to arrive at solutions that keep our members working. If we are part of the conversation, we will not become extinct.

What are the union’s greatest challenges?

Technology. How do we protect our members and ensure they aren’t being robbed of their identities without being properly compensated when there are things like holographic images used in concerts or technology that can duplicate our voices or images? How do we protect their careers?

The rapid pace of change has the potential to threaten us, and that’s why it’s so important to acknowledge its existence and then find ways to work with it. If we ignore it or deny its value, we do so at our own risk.

We also need to keep our eye on legislative and policy issues that are important to our members. Today’s laws have not kept up with the many technological changes, so we need to be proactive in ensuring members have recourse against the new ways in which their work and reputations can be threatened.

How has the successful resolution of the BBH strike positioned the union?

The BBH strike occurred before and during our Commercials Contracts negotiations. That we were able to be successful on both fronts really speaks to the involvement of the membership.

We saw that same spirit in the Commercials Contracts negotiations. I was impressed with the commitment of members from all over the country who were willing to look at the hard truth about how our work has changed in the commercials industry and what that means for our contracts.

We need to keep the energy, candor and unity we saw with the BBH strike and the Commercials negotiations so we can continue building on our successes.

From fighting sexual harassment to #AdsGoUnion, SAG-AFTRA has a lot of major initiatives. What can members do to help advance those goals?

Get involved. Join a committee. Read our magazine, look at social media, watch our videos, listen to our podcast; we are reaching out in a million different ways. And share it with fellow members. Our true successes come when we are working together. And for that to happen, people need to be informed.

This item was originally featured in the fall 2019 issue of the SAG-AFTRA magazine.