NEW YORK — A group of SAG-AFTRA members assembled for a free speech event where campaign imagery was projected onto the outer brick building where Bartle Bogle Hegarty, Inc.'s (BBH) New York office is located. The event was part of the union’s ongoing strike against the ad agency. Executive Vice President and New York Local President Rebecca Damon led the outdoor digital projection as the strike against BBH escalates. Damon was joined by SAG-AFTRA Vice President, Actors/Performers Samantha Mathis, N.Y. Local Second Vice President and National Board members Maureen Donnelly, Anne Gartlan, Elaine LeGaro, leslie Shreve, and Jeff Spurgeon as well as N.Y. Local Board members Marc Baron, Avis Boone, Jack Mulcahy, Sarah Seeds and Rick Zahn. The ad agency is attempting to illegally abandon its union contract with SAG-AFTRA after almost 20 years.
“BBH claims to be a good corporate citizen, yet their actions paint a very different picture,” said Damon. “Their hypocrisy isn’t lost on SAG-AFTRA members, who are fighting for good union jobs and safe sets. The spotlight on BBH is only going to get brighter the longer they refuse to honor their commitment.”
To date, SAG-AFTRA has received a massive outpouring of labor support from other national and international unions such as the Actors’ Equity Association, ACTRA, Directors Guild of America, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, Local 47, American Federation of Musicians, Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild of America, East.
SAG-AFTRA’s Commercials Contracts have more than 600 signatories, which collectively produce the vast majority of commercials that viewers see every day. BBH has been a signatory to the contract since 1999. In recent years, SAG-AFTRA has worked with ad agencies to update their contracts to reflect the ever-changing media landscape. Just last year, for instance, SAG-AFTRA created the Low Budget Digital Waiver specifically to address the industry’s desire to produce smaller budget digital work for social media platforms.
To download high-resolution photos of today’s event, please click here. Photo credit: Kyle Depew/SAG-AFTRA
Note: SAG-AFTRA has no labor dispute with any person other than BBH.
EVP and New York President Rebecca Damon leads a spirited rally in front of BBH New York. (Photo: Kyle Depew/SAG-AFTRA)
SAG-AFTRA projects #StrikeBBH messaging on the façade of the building where BBH has its New York office. (Photo: Kyle Depew/SAG-AFTRA)
EVP and New York President Rebecca Damon leads members to the projection site. (Photo: Kyle Depew/SAG-AFTRA)
About SAG-AFTRA
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.