Honoring Mike Kraft

It is the pleasure of the Cleveland Council of the Ohio-Pittsburgh Local to honor one of our own as he steps slightly away from our area.  

Mike Kraft was the president of the Cleveland Local under legacy AFTRA for several years before merger, a position he rose to as he became more and more active in union business. He continues as a Local Board member now. An on-camera narrator, actor and voiceover artist who joined AFTRA in 1981 and SAG in 1987, he is still a busy performer. But his value to the rest of us is in his deep knowledge of contracts and his clear vision into the workings of the business. In 2005, SAG-AFTRA Ohio-Pittsburgh Local Vice President Joe Gunderman asked him to take a look at some thoughts that had been written out after that year’s AFTRA convention by members who were concerned with the lack of action being taken in the non-broadcast area. Mike had well-reasoned contributions to the concerns being stated and wasn’t shy about sharing them. He was adopted into the group, which became known as the MROWGS in AFTRA, and which did get some additional attention shed on non-broadcast issues. In fact, Mike’s involvement in that and his growing participation in Cleveland’s local got him named co-chair of the national non-broadcast steering committee. He has always been insightful, enthusiastic, helpful to his fellow members (veteran or novice), and active within the union and in local politics to help improve conditions for working performers. He also cooked great meals for the Cleveland Board’s holiday parties. Just sayin’.

Mike has recently moved to Columbus. He’s still in our local, but the Cleveland Council will miss him. We wish him all the best, and thanks for all he did for us.  

Mike Kraft with Joe Gunderman at the recent Cleveland Council Picnic.

This item was originally featured in the November 2016 local newsletter.