March 2021 L.A. Local Government Review Committee Report

The L.A. Local Government Review Committee, or GRC, is the committee that discusses issues and makes recommendations regarding the governance of the Los Angeles Local. If you are a local member and are interested in matters regarding how the local or union could be better governed, this is a committee on which you probably would enjoy serving.
 
Very often, the L.A. Local will have a matter requiring in-depth discussions and deliberations, but because of time considerations, cannot be adequately considered at a local board meeting. In such situations, the board refers the matter to the local GRC where it can be discussed in depth. When the local GRC obtains the necessary approval on the matter, it makes an advisory recommendation to the L.A. Local Board which then determines the outcome.
 
Committee members may bring issues for consideration, and the local GRC may also make additional suggestions by direct referral from the L.A. Local Board to the National Government Review Committee for items of national concern. Generally, if the National GRC approves a constitutional amendment, the proposed amendment is sent to the SAG-AFTRA National Board.  

Here’s an example of one such governance issue which was brought up by committee members and addressed: In 2020, there was a concern about the unique way vacant L.A. Local Board seats were being filled. Hypothetically, a member could run for either a national or local board seat and, immediately upon election, resign that seat and designate another unelected member as their replacement. In every other SAG-AFTRA local, Local Board replacements, with the exception of some Local Officers, must be approved by theLocal Board.

By a unanimous vote, the GRC recommended the L.A. Local Board amend the Los Angeles Local Constitution to be consistent with the policies from other SAG-AFTRA Locals. The Local Board agreed to the recommendation and voted by the required supermajority to amend the policy within its constitution, and it was then sent to the National GRC for review.
 
In this instance, the National GRC recommended approval of the amendment only if the following modification was made:   
 
“Permit a departing national or local board member to designate a permanent replacement, subject to approval of the local board. In the event the local board does not approve the designee, the departing individual could name a different designee. Until such time as a permanent replacement is designated and approved, the position will remain a vacancy. During such time, no temporary replacement for that position shall be permitted.”

The National Board then voted to approve the National GRC’s recommendation. The local GRC then deliberated this matter further and, upon deciding that the compromise was better than the former policy, recommended that the local board accept and approve the National GRC-recommended modifications. A two-thirds supermajority was required and achieved. Click here for a copy of the L.A. Local Constitution.
 
The Los Angeles Local will be calling for committee volunteers in the fall. For more information about becoming a volunteer, please contact the SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local at (323) 549-6459 or la@sagaftra.org.