A Message from the Nevada Local President

A Message from the Local President

As I write this article, we are fast approaching our new union’s one-year anniversary. While Nevada has had it easier than some other locals, no one is claiming it has been a completely smooth and stress-free transition. From my perspective, I have never questioned the value of merging, as I was not swayed by the myriad details or political ramifications that are a natural manifestation of mergers. Rather, I always believed that the elimination of contractual competition with a fellow performers’ union and a combining of our drives toward pension and health benefits were the paramount and definitive reasons for voting a resounding “yes.”

We have seen our first success in achieving a long-needed music video contract, and the board will be voting on a tentative commercials agreement. I, and many others in SAG-AFTRA, think that for the everyday, middle-class actor that our commercials contract is our best, and it is my most fervent hope that our newly acquired merged collective strength will embolden and empower our new union negotiators. They are in my prayers and I hope yours.

Our National Board has already voted to ask our Pension & Health and Health & Retirement trustees to move forward with talks with the producers’ trustees and the government to combine our plans. Once the two plans are combined and each performance counts toward a retirement or a health plan, I do not believe there will be many negative voices out there decrying our great new union.

Regardless of how many little bumps in the road since the merger on March 30, 2012, we have already seen the benefits in Nevada as several SAG members now are working on AFTRA TV series, awards shows and specials. Former Nevada AFTRA members now have continuous and direct representation in our Executive Director Steve Clinton. I truly believe that great progress has and is occurring, and that after the 2013 elections and the SAG-AFTRA Convention in September, many of the problems will be ironed out and the fact that we were once separated will fade in our memories.

Take care, be safe, and find happiness in every nook and cranny,
Barbara Grant

This item was originally featured in the April 2013 local newsletter.