Notice Regarding Proposed Constitutional Amendments

Dear Members of the National Board, Alternate National Board Members, Local Officers and Board Members and Members:

Please review the important message below about the process for submitting proposed amendments to the SAG-AFTRA Constitution for consideration by the National Board or the Locals. In particular, please take note of the submission deadlines. Proposals that are not submitted in a timely manner or following this process will not be considered by the Convention. In addition to being circulated to all elected leaders, this information will be posted on the SAG-AFTRA website.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Michelle Bennett.

Duncan Crabtree-Ireland
Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel

Notice regarding Proposed Constitutional Amendments:

Summary of Deadlines (see below for details)

• Proposed amendments for National Board consideration: Wednesday, July 1st by 5pm PDT
• Proposed amendment petitions approved by Locals: Friday, August 14th by 5pm PDT

One means by which the SAG-AFTRA Constitution may be amended is through approval of proposed amendments by the Convention. The national Convention will be held October 1-4, 2015 in Los Angeles. Pursuant to Article XVIII(A)(2) of the Constitution, a proposed amendment can be considered at Convention only if it has been submitted with:

1. The approval of the National Board; or
2. The approval of one-third of the locals (presently, nine locals) documented on an approved petition form.

Pre-Review and Consultation on Amendments

Anyone preparing a proposed constitutional amendment is strongly encouraged to submit it for pre-review by union counsel and governance staff. Based on our experience at the inaugural Convention, pre-review can help proponents avoid almost all procedural obstacles to your proposal, and greatly enhances its chances of adoption at the Convention. Governance and legal staff are very happy to work with you to achieve this goal, but you must submit your proposal earlier than the final deadline in order to allow time to do this. Please see below for details.

Deadlines and Process for Submitting Proposed Amendments for National Board Consideration

Any local or member that wishes to submit a proposed constitutional amendment for consideration by the National Board at its final meeting prior to the deadline for notice of amendments for the 2015 Convention must submit the final proposed language of the amendment to the SAG-AFTRA Governance Department at amendments@sagaftra.orgno later than 5pm PDT on Wednesday, July 1st, 2015. This allows sufficient time for review of proposed amendments by the Government Review Committee prior to the July National Board meeting. Proposed amendments received after the deadline will not be considered.  If you would like to take advantage of the optional but highly recommended pre-review of your proposed amendment by counsel and staff, the deadline for submission isFriday, June 26th, 2015.

 

Deadlines and Process for Submission of Proposed Amendments By Nine Locals

Any local that wishes to endorse a proposed amendment for purposes of consideration by Convention without National Board approval must request an approved petition form from the Governance Department at amendments@sagaftra.org. In order to sign the petition form, an appropriate local officer must certify that the Local Board has considered and approved the final language of the proposed amendment. Properly executed petition forms must be received from at least nine locals no later than 5pm PDT August 14, 2015. Executed petitions should be submitted to the Governance Department at amendments@sagaftra.org. Proposed amendments for which fewer than nine local petitions are received, or for which the identical language has not been approved in each petition will not be considered by the Convention. Locals considering proposing amendments are encouraged to submit draft language to the Governance Department as soon as possible for preliminary review and feedback from staff and counsel. If you would like to take advantage of the optional but highly recommended pre-review of your proposed amendment by counsel and staff, please submit your draft proposal as soon as possible, and before you begin securing local board approvals. Revisions resulting from pre-review must then be approved by all nine local boards – please allow enough time for this process.

Please note that pursuant to Article XVIII(A)(3). of the SAG-AFTRA Constitution, adoption of any constitutional amendments at the national convention will require a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the delegates voting at convention, provided that thirty (30) days’ written or electronic notice of the proposed amendment has been given to each Local.