SAG-AFTRA National Board Meets via Videoconference

LOS ANGELES – The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) National Board met Saturday in a regularly scheduled one-day video conference plenary. 

Following SAG-AFTRA's Stop the Hate Week Summit, the National Board approved a Diversity Action Plan including provisions encouraging the use of inclusive language; establishing diversity committees serving the Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) and Latino communities; providing for implicit bias training for National and Local boards; directing the creation and distribution of an inclusive practices guide for broadcast journalists; strengthening partnerships with allied organizations conducting diversity and inclusion research; recommending member education campaigns to promote the union’s Low Budget contracts and their diversity incentives, and encouraging members to complete their online demographic profile. The National Board also adopted a new membership rule - Rule 7 - explicitly prohibiting harassment and abuse, including sexual harassment, intimidation, and retaliation for the filing of complaints, and making violations subject to disciplinary action.  

“Stop The Hate week has been all about taking action to support and protect our members from diverse communities, many of whom are under direct threat and facing violent attacks.” said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. “The action plan approved by our National Board today advances concrete actions to stem the tide of hate.”

"Taking action to stop the hate starts with each of us," said SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White. "But collective action aggregating the power of our individual members makes achieving real change truly possible." 

The Board and staff also paid tribute to National Board member Joe Krebs, who died April 6. The award-winning broadcaster’s family joined the meeting for the posthumous presentation of the President’s Award to Krebs’ family in recognition of his extraordinary service to the union and its members. 

The Board also reviewed administrative, finance and governance matters and received reports including: 

President’s Report

President Gabrielle Carteris opened with a remembrance of members who died since the last national board meeting and led the board in a moment of silence. She also reported on SAG-AFTRA’s ongoing legislative work, continued efforts to combat sexual harassment, and diversity and inclusion efforts, including the union’s recent Stop the Hate Week and stunt diversity task force. Carteris also noted that Fair Fight Action Founder  Stacey Abrams will appear with Carteris and David White to discuss voting rights in a virtual conversation  on Wednesday, April 21 at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET. Click here for details.  

National Executive Director’s Report

National Executive Director David White provided an update of the union’s operations, gains in member services, member education and engagement. White also reported on how the union has maintained core functions during the pandemic.

White highlighted several upcoming innovations including the launch of a dedicated Producer’s Portal, which will make it easier to hire SAG-AFTRA members, and provided updates on recent initiatives like the online enrollment tool, digital claims tracker, and online cast clearance portal. He also spoke about the addition of the Micro-Budget and Influencer agreement application process to the SAG-AFTRA website, and detailed the success of SAG-AFTRA’s Labor, Innovation & Technology Summit, which took place in February.

White reported on the union’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts including the union’s recent Stop the Hate Week, which included a podcast episode on trans actors breaking through stereotypes, and a series of events that brought together professionals from across the entertainment and media industry to focus on advancing equity and inclusion on screen, in recording studios and newsrooms, behind the scenes and throughout the industry. He also provided updates on strategic partnerships to advance diversity and inclusion and discussed updates on the stunt diversity task force.

White provided the Board with updates on projects to prevent sexual harassment, including the development of the sexual harassment reporting app and the next phase of the intimacy coordinators project. White recognized President Carteris and the Government Affairs and Public Policy team for their legislative advocacy and noted several successful initiatives including the CARES Act, American Rescue Plan, tax reforms and incentives, and digital image rights. He also highlighted the FAIR Act (Free Artists from Industry Restrictions), a California bill that would prohibit the use of unfair and outdated contract provisions that hold actors and recording artists off the market and unable to work for unreasonably long periods of time. Sign up to support the FAIR Act here.

White also spoke to the resilience of members and staff over the past year due to the pandemic. and ended his report with highlights from the recent 27th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards. 

Finance Report 

Secretary-Treasurer Camryn Manheim and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented reports on actuals through the 3rd quarter showing that the fiscal year 2021 actuals have performed better than planned. They also confirmed that the union’s application for a government PPP loan had been recently approved and funded.

The fiscal year 2022 budget was also approved, along with a Finance/Executive Committee recommendation to extend the dues relief program for the upcoming May dues period. 

Labor and Technology Summit

Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon, who is also Chair of the Innovation and New Technology Committee, reported on February’s successful 2021 Labor Innovation & Technology summit, the third annual summit on the intersection of new technology and workers rights, co-sponsored by SAG-AFTRA and the AFL-CIO. Featuring more than eleven panels on a variety of cutting edge topics, the summit explores the impact of technology on the artists who make our industry great, and how to harmonize technology with fundamental respect for people.

Safety Report

Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland reported on the upcoming renegotiation of the Return to Work Agreement with the AMPTP and other unions. He also announced the approval of the JPC Safety Protocols Agreement, which will codifies existing safety protocols for commercials producers.

Contracts Report

The National Board took two actions pertinent to the National Code of Fair Practice for Network Television Broadcasting: Authorizing a fourth-month extension of the contract and approving a number of proposals for bargaining. 

Governance Report 

Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon and Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel Duncan Crabtree-Ireland reported on the upcoming SAG-AFTRA Convention and on recommendations relating to a number of governance matters. In addition to the new Rule 7, the National Board approved the submission of a proposed constitutional amendment to extend the statute of limitations on member disciplinary charges relating to sexual harassment, abuse, and assault from six months to ten years. It also approved several local constitutional amendments. The board established a puppeteers committee and podcast committee.  

The meeting adjourned at 9:00 p.m. PT.

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.