National Board Delegates Authority to Executive Committee per SAG-AFTRA Constitution

As the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, leading to social distancing and production shutdowns, it became apparent that SAG-AFTRA would need to be able to react quickly to the changing situation. Consequently, per the SAG-AFTRA Constitution, the National Board voted on March 24 to approve a resolution giving its 38-person Executive Committee the authority to take actions on behalf of the board during this extraordinary national emergency.

The resolution passed with 93.73% voting yes and 6.27% voting no. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris announced the board’s action, saying, “This resolution reflects the determination of SAG-AFTRA’s elected leaders to protect its members quickly during this constantly evolving global crisis.”

On March 30, the Executive Committee launched a dues relief program for members experiencing financial hardship resulting from work stoppages related to COVID-19.

The committee overwhelmingly approved the budget for the 2021 fiscal year on April 30. The $95 million budget draws $5 million from SAG-AFTRA’s reserves and included reductions in personnel costs and operating expenses. The aim was to optimize workflow and technology savings by removing redundant positions and those functions that are no longer an organizational priority. The budget also anticipated cost savings through employee furloughs and work-hour reductions. The union will continue to monitor this unprecedented situation closely and take appropriate measures as needed to protect SAG-AFTRA’s membership and operational priorities.

This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2020 issue.