SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Board Meets by Videoconference and Welcomes Observers

The SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local Board met on Thursday, Oct. 6 by videoconference, and opened the meeting to member observers, as was done prior to COVID.

Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez shared the wages and working conditions process for the upcoming TV/Theatrical contract negotiations and the L.A. Board unanimously voted to appoint LA Second Vice President David Jolliffe to chair the L.A. W&Ws. 

W&Ws are expected to begin before the end of 2022, with bargaining expected to commence in 2023.

L.A. Local President’s Report

L.A. Local President Jodi Long began her report by congratulating L.A. First Vice President Sheryl Lee Ralph for receiving a Primetime Emmy Award for her work on Abbott Elementary. She also gave an update on national efforts regarding self-tape issues shared by members across the country. 

Long reminded the board that the current Return to Work Agreement and its provisions are not within the purview of the Local Board. However, the Board did approve an advisory recommendation to create a national task force to address the issues of reasonable accommodations.

L.A. Local Executive Director’s Report

L.A. Local Executive Director Serena Kung introduced newly hired L.A. Local Program Coordinator Brenda Cisneros.

Kung provided an update on upcoming member events that included What’s New in Casting: A Panel Webinar With Casting Directors  panel; member orientations and the 2022 membership meeting. A decision was made to include an additional event before the end of the year that would be programmed by the L.A. Conservatory Committee to focus on self-taping. Upcoming events can be found here. 

A recommendation was approved to schedule more L.A. virtual educational events and, when possible, in-person programs. 

In response to member concerns that unemployment benefit audits are being triggered by residual payments, Kung provided an update on current efforts being made with the Government Affairs and Public Policy staff to outreach to the California Employment Development Department to re-educate EDD staff on how residual payments are processed. 

Committee Reports

The Local Board approved a recommendation to establish a Los Angeles Performers with Disabilities Committee, which will be chaired by L.A. Local member Nicole Cyrille with Vice Chair Jack Patterson. They will be working on populating the committee and creating a mission statement.

The following committees reported on recent meetings and actions: Board Replacement, Communications, Conservatory, Government Affairs and Public Policy, Government Review, Honors & Tributes, Member Outreach Relations and Education (MORE), Open Board, Seasoned Performers, Sexual Harassment Prevention, SAG-AFTRA Radio Plays and Stand-In/Rehearsals.