The Houston-Austin Local of SAG-AFTRA held their annual membership meeting November 10th. The meeting was conducted via Zoom.
Local President Mykle McCoslin kicked off the meeting with an introduction to Board members and staff in attendance. A moment of silence was observed for members we lost since the last membership meeting in 2021, followed by a celebration of the news that offices will be opening and in-person meetings will begin taking place again in early 2023.
National Board member, Pamela Weaver, shared a report on all things related to the national organization and recognized new members who joined us since the last meeting.
We were excited to introduce our new Executive, Tom Schwarz, who came on board the first of October. Tom also introduced our Manager of Contracts and Member Services, Amy Davidson-Williams. After a long search, we’re happy to have our staff team in place as we head into the new year.
Our Executive Director reported on some important happenings at the local level, like the news that offices around the country will begin re-opening in early 2023 and staff will begin traveling again with increased engagement and activity to help serve the membership.
Later this month, we will announce the commencement of our Wages and Working Conditions process for the TV/Theatrical contract in advance of negotiations that are scheduled for early 2023. This process will allow members who work these agreements to make their voices heard by sharing their perspectives and what they’d like to see in an updated agreement.
Last but not least, Tom announced that we are beginning preparations for our biennial elections. We encourage all members interested in getting more involved to join a committee or run for a seat on the local board during our elections, which will begin in late spring. We will also be electing convention delegates for the next convention coming up in October 2023.
Former Executive Director, Trish Avery, joined us to report on the Texas Media Production Alliance and their work to secure funding for the state incentives program which is critical for the industry in the state of Texas. TXMPA is gearing up for the 2023 Legislative Session and will work diligently, as always, to ensure funding for this program remains intact. You can learn more about TXMPA and how you can support their work at TXMPA.org.
Assistant National Executive Director for Locals, Linda Dowell, reported on a number of highlights from our work as a union. Organizing is a large part of our ongoing work and Linda reminded us that organizing opportunities are ever-present and asked members to engage by evaluating opportunities to turn non-union work into union work by directing agents, casting directors, and producers to our office when they’re offered non-union jobs. Linda asked us to remember some of the most popular local contracts where opportunities to turn work are most likely, like the Southern Central Regional Commercials Code, the local Corporate/Educational Code, and the Low Budget Theatrical and New Media Agreements. In addition to the major negotiated agreements with the studios, SAG-AFTRA also promulgates a number of independent film contracts – including an array of low budget agreements, that help make production affordable and within reach of a new generation of performers.
We ended the program with a conversation between our highly anticipated special guest, casting director Vicky Boone, and Houston-Austin Local President, Mykle McCoslin. Vicky spent an hour walking local members through the current mindset of casting directors in the post-pandemic market and offered a variety of tips and insights for performers looking to land those oh-so-coveted roles in the local market and beyond. Members were engaged and offered a variety of thoughtful insights and questions for Vicky while Mykle did a remarkable job of bringing up insightful topics to help make this session incredibly productive.
We’re so grateful for Vicky’s time and thoughtful presentation, which helped make this year’s membership meeting as successful as any in recent memory. Thanks to all of our attendees who spent the evening sharing their thoughts and experiences with our Houston-Austin SAG-AFTRA family. We’re looking forward to seeing everybody in person over the coming year and encourage everybody to contact our office if there’s anything YOUR UNION can do to help.
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.