A Message From the Local Executive Director

I’m writing this newsletter article from my dining room, the same place where, for the past two years, I’ve written every email, memo, letter and contract proposal. At first, like everyone else, when things shut down in March of 2020, I thought it would last a few weeks. Then, I thought a few months. Today, I’ve gotten out of the prediction business and focus my energy on moving forward, living life, hoping for better times but being prepared as much as possible for whatever may come.

In many ways, my journey and maybe yours, is similar to the journey of SAG-AFTRA as a whole. Initially, the union focused on the safety and security of its members: physical, financial and emotional. This meant upping communications, circulating information on outside resources, waiving financial obligations, etc.

For performers, things shut down completely, and work began on what would become the national Return To Work Agreement: an agreement with producers to balance the need to provide employment opportunities with making things as safe as possible. For broadcasters, there was additional urgency, as it was our members who were out covering the crisis, working round the clock on a story that would never end. These members needed dedicated, local support, and SAG-AFTRA made sure that they got it!

Looking back, it’s amazing how much our local accomplished last year:

• Successful local (and national) elections.
• Seamless transition between outgoing Local President Sam Clover and our new president, Nicole Izanec.
• A brand-new first contract for our newest broadcast shop, WHYY.
• Continuing negotiations and servicing our 12 broadcast contracts, including newly negotiated contracts at NBC, Q102 and TTWN, with ongoing negotiations at KYW, WMMR and CBS3.

The office is still there and we all miss it, but more importantly, from a staff perspective, we know the fantastic members of the SAG-AFTRA Philly Local are still “there” and we miss seeing you (in person). We know that the good work of the union has continued, albeit remotely, and the work will only get better when we’re all face to face again.

Stephen Leshinski
Local Executive Director