SAG-AFTRA Holds First #StrikeBBH Rally of 2019

The SAG-AFTRA #StrikeBBH rally on Jan. 23 began with the sound of drums and a strong, clear chant on Wilshire Boulevard: “Actors! United! We’ll never be divided!”

The rally, the union’s first of the year, was part of the continuing action against ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Inc. Last year, BBH attempted to illegally withdraw from its union contract with SAG-AFTRA after nearly 20 years. BBH’s action poses a direct threat to workers’ ability to work on safe sets, earn livable wages and receive pension and health benefits. The union’s responses have included protests at the agency’s New York and Los Angeles locations, rallies, social media campaigns and other initiatives, such as a mock bake sale and a “gift” of coal during the winter holiday season.

Led by SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, National Executive Director David White and SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and Los Angeles Local President Jane Austin, nearly 1,000 members, allies and labor supporters began the procession from SAG-AFTRA Plaza to the Great Lawn at the La Brea Tar Pits. Many wore T-shirts bearing the #AdsGoUnion and #StrikeBBH hashtags and held handmade signs.

Representatives from the city of Los Angeles, along with labor allies including the Teamsters, Actors’ Equity Association, Director’s Guild of America, Writers Guild of America West, IATSE and the American Federation of Musicians Local 47 were also in attendance. AFM 47 musicians provided a drumline for the march and rally.

Commercials Performers Committee Chair Katie Von Till gave opening remarks and introduced Carteris, who emceed the event.

“Your presence here today makes a statement: that we won’t have our livelihoods sacrificed for corporate profits,” said Carteris. “We refuse to accept anything less than being paid fairly for the work we do.”

The president’s sentiments were echoed by White and Austin in their remarks to the crowd, and both stressed the importance of members keeping one another accountable for commercial work being under union contract.

“This fight is a collective fight,” said White. “When you stand … you stand for each other, for your contract [and] for working people everywhere.”

Other speakers and labor union representatives in attendance included President of the L.A. Board of Public Works and L.A.’s Chief Film Liaison Kevin James; L.A. County Fed President Rusty Hicks; IATSE 2^nd International Vice President Thomas Davis; Teamsters Secretary-Treasurer Steve Dayan; and AFM Local 47 President John Acosta. Each voiced their support of SAG-AFTRA’s continued efforts against BBH and noted the positive impact of union commercial work on the local economy and labor movement at large.

Carteris closed the rally by asking SAG-AFTRA leadership and labor allies to join her on stage and led the crowd in one last chant: “We want a contract and we want it now!”  

Photo: During the Jan. 23 #StrikeBBH rally, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris told a crowd of close to 1,000 members, leaders and union allies that ad agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Inc. is attempting to illegally abandon the union’s commercials contracts and will be held accountable. (Photo: Maury Phillips/SAG-AFTRA)