National Board Member Report

The first weekend of September is Labor Day Weekend. Be union proud and union active.

SAG-AFTRA is a union. We have over 80 years of history of being a part of and standing up for the rights of all workers.

It is up to us as members to build local work, help non-union, low-budget producers off the anti-union bottle, to grow our qualified professional union talent pool, and to continue to let the national office know how much we value and want to see the return of an office and a local executive with boots on the ground in Nevada.

Being SAG-AFTRA is difficult, given that we live in a so-called “right-to-work state.” We all make sacrifices by sticking to our beliefs and proudly being union. But it is worth the price. By sticking to our guns, we keep the union strong.

We Need to Organize this Marketplace

It takes all of you, as members, for us to be successful and end the flow of union work to non-union talent, a difficult task in a “right-to-work-for-less-and-be-terminated-at-will” state.

All of us, as front line activist members, need to encourage qualified pre-union talent to join our ranks. If we do not, then the non-union pool will grow and make it increasingly difficult for our union to organize union work for all of us.

No matter what they say, you may audition for non-union projects — and once you have won them over you must have a union contract to do the work. Be honest and upfront as you audition; do not hide your union membership. You are an asset to productions and are in a position to demonstrate the professional advantages of using union talent.

‘Right-to-Work’ is Theft.

As one columnist put it, “Right-to-work is theft.” Can I walk into your country club and use all the services without paying, while you as a member have to pay for that membership and those services. Non-union talent can work without having to join the union, gaining all the benefits we have earned over the years. Can I get a lawyer or doctor who does non-union commercials to give me their services for less than they claim they are worth? How long would that doctor, lawyer or country club stay in business giving it all away for free?

Support politicians who will vote in support of unions. Get active in battles to undo this unfair legislation. Turn down non-union work. Report members who work “off the card.” Let your voice be heard.

SAG-AFTRA Online

SAGindie, the SAG Foundation and other sites remain active as a resource for members and producers alike. Use the SAG-AFTRA site for constant event information, news and services updates as well as history, basic rules, reports and features stories.

SAG-AFTRA: A Bright Future

We bring the strength of the largest union in the industry, made up of a wide range of professionals in multiple areas of this increasingly monolithic industry. We are prepared for the growing power on the other side of the negotiating table, anti-union attitudes, the merging of technologies and ongoing changes in the professional landscape.

Be proud and join me in being thankful this Labor Day season that we finally have joined into one unified force for all members, and for all future performers.

Solidarity,

Art Lynch
National Board Director, Nevada

This item was originally featured in the August 2014 local newsletter.