A Letter From Your Michigan Local President Eric Wydra

Dear Members of the SAG-AFTRA Michigan Local,

I hope that everyone had an enjoyable Thanksgiving (last week for our U.S. members and back in October for our Canadian members). I wanted to highlight a few items for your attention.

First, we will be having our Michigan Local annual membership meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 13, via Zoom from 6:30-8 p.m. The main topic of discussion will be the status of potential revitalization of film incentives in Michigan and what we as SAG-AFTRA members can do to help make that happen! Additionally, we will have updates on recent favorable changes to the Michigan Regional Commercial Code and a discussion about 2023 Conservatory classes. I hope you all can attend! Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 9, at 5 p.m. Click here to RSVP. 

Second, SAG-AFTRA is currently conducting the wages and working conditions (W&W) process for the upcoming TV/Theatrical Contracts negotiations. Your voice and participation are critical! Please visit sagaftra.org/2023ww and register to attend one or more meetings. More to come, so watch your email and check the website for this important information.

And third, over the last 30 years, wages and costs of living have increased across the board, but a provision in the tax code that allows performing artists to deduct qualified business expenses is outdated and obsolete. We need your help to change that! Please tell Congress to include the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) in the year-end budget bill, which will make critical above-the-line business expense tax deductions — including agents commissions, costs of headshots, equipment used for self-tapes, training classes and more — available to a broader group of performing artists. The net result will be more money in our pockets!

Click here to send a letter to your representatives urging them to include PATPA in the year-end budget bill. Let them know you support PATPA!

Thanks for taking the time to read this and (hopefully!) taking action on these items.

In solidarity,

Eric Wydra

Michigan Local President