Happy Birthday, SAG-AFTRA!

by Dee Dawson
National Board member, Houston-Austin Local

Wow, what a difference a year makes. At this time last year, this union did not even exist; today it is the largest performers union in the world. At this time last year, we were not “we” but were SAG and AFTRA, standing each alone and sometimes at odds with one another. At this time last year, after many starts and stops through the decades, and after much shed blood, sweat and tears, these two great and storied unions stood on the precipice of their unknown futures and made a leap of faith — together. At this time last year, the two unions became greater than the sum of their parts by becoming one.

Someone once said that “you have to let go of what you are before you can become who you are meant to be.” It is no easier for organizations to do this than individuals. But greatness is created in daring greatly. SAG-AFTRA is a brand-new organization built on a foundation of daring greatly; an organization of which you can be proud to be a member. 

On SAG-AFTRA’s first birthday we are charging ahead full throttle with negotiations of the union’s biggest contracts — the commercials contracts. As a new union, the days of our negotiating partner’s ability to “divide and conquer” is gone; we are one; one not only in common goals and ends to be achieved, but in the literal sense as well. There is no SAG. There is no AFTRA. There is only SAG-AFTRA, a strong and courageous union. There is only us; and you are an integral part of SAG-AFTRA. 

We are on a great new journey that began with a courageous leap, and it only gets better from here. Happy first birthday, SAG-AFTRA! I can’t wait to see what year two brings ... 

This item was originally featured in the April 2013 local newsletter.