A Letter from Your Seattle Local President

Hello SAG-AFTRA Seattle Local Members,

I hope that you are doing well during this treacherous time. By now, you’ve probably read the news that SAG-AFTRA reached an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers on June 11 and that the SAG-AFTRA National Board approved the tentative agreement by a super majority of 67.61% to 32.39%. It is now up to the membership to ratify this three-year contract.
 
In the middle of a global pandemic, at a time of economic upheaval and dramatic declines in industry revenue, we were able to secure huge gains.
 
As your Seattle Local president, I want you to know that I will be voting YES on this deal — and here’s why I urge you to vote YES as well.
 
The contract offers increasing residuals for streaming and is focused on the future.
 
Interviews/auditions in hotel rooms and private residences are now prohibited unless there’s no other place to do them. If it does need to take place in a hotel room or private residence, you can bring a support person.
 
We need to have foresight and be thoughtful about the future. This deal releases a fixed residual formula on a declining platform and positions us for extraordinary growth and lucrative FIXED residuals in streaming.
 
I invite you to check out other important highlights in the 2020 TV/Theatrical Referendum by going to sagaftra.org/contracts2020. I also encourage you to attend the online informational meeting this Tuesday, July 14, at 2 p.m. Click here for details and to RSVP.  
 
All eligible members were mailed a postcard on July 1 with a PIN number and instructions on how to vote online or how to request a paper ballot. If you don’t have your PIN, you may retrieve it at the voting website. Whether submitted online or by mail, ballots must be received by 5 p.m. PDT on Wednesday, July 22, 2020.
 
I hope you will join me in voting YES on this historic contract. Our FUTURE depends on it!
 
In solidarity,
 
Rik Deskin
Seattle Local President