National Board Report: Scott Rodgers

Your National Board has been working extremely hard to merge two large and unique unions into one powerful force. And, at the same time, focusing on our main priority — negotiating our labor contracts! 
 
Good news on that front: We have completed negotiations on our first-ever music video contract! This historic contract covers performers in music videos for the first time. We are also in the midst of our first major W&W (Wages & Working Conditions) process, for our commercials contracts. (Co-President Rolf Burton chairs our Local Commercials W&W Committee). The commercials contracts will be our first major contract negotiation as SAG-AFTRA. The Theatrical/Television Contract negotiations will follow. It truly is an exciting time for our new union!
 
Since our last newsletter, I attended the July plenary meetings in L.A. At the meetings, the National Conservatory Committee was resurrected, and Ron Morgan from L.A. and I were named co-chairs. There was lengthy discussion about the budget. There was a presentation and discussion on the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Treaty on audiovisual performances. The treaty would protect the rights of performers when their work is portrayed or distributed in other countries. Forty-eight countries signed the treaty in Beijing, and more are expected to sign. Thirty countries must now ratify the treaty for it to enter into force. There was a resolution to encourage the trustees of the SAG P&H and AFTRA H&R to merge the plans, and the National Executive Committee was granted authority to approve amendments to the Local constitutions.

Visit our brand-new website at SAGAFTRA.org to get the latest news — like our exciting new insurance options for members! Our next national plenary is set to take place Oct. 27 and 28 in Los Angeles. I'll report back to you in our next newsletter on what we accomplish.

This item was originally featured in the October 2012 local newsletter.