SAG-AFTRA National Board Meets via Videoconference

The SAG-AFTRA National Board met today in a scheduled one-day videoconference plenary. The National Board voted unanimously to approve the 2025 budget.

In addition, the Board also reviewed administrative, finance and governance matters, and received reports including: 

National Executive Director’s Report

SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland kicked off his report by announcing that the union was named to Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list for 2024, making it the second time the union has achieved this prestigious honor. 

He reported on recent contract news, including the newly-ratified TV Animation Agreement, the Sound Recordings Code Tentative Agreement, which is currently out to members for a ratification vote, and the new Tiered-Budget Independent Interactive Media Agreement. 

Crabtree-Ireland gave a comprehensive review of the union’s legislative efforts to fill in the gaps in current legal artificial intelligence protections, detailing the status of several pieces of federal and state legislation. He directed members to sagaftra.org/gapp for detailed information on A.I. legislation in California, New York, Tennessee and elsewhere. 

Reflecting on the scope of legislative efforts, Crabtree-Ireland said, “We’re fighting for every bit of A.I. protections we can win for our members. Hopefully this will result in broad rights and protections for our members and other individuals.” 

In addition to reviewing several diversity, equity and inclusion programs SAG-AFTRA participated in, Crabtree-Ireland discussed his participation in recent International Labor Organization and World Intellectual Property Organization conferences.

“It’s so important for SAG-AFTRA to have our voice heard in these forums, which are attended by influential technology and government leaders,” said Crabtree-Ireland. 

Finance Report

Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented the third quarter financials, reporting that we are tracking to budget.

Governance Report

The National Board voted to seat a number of national committees and handled other governance matters including the establishment of a task force on child protection which will be seated and chartered in the coming weeks.

The meeting adjourned at 2:08 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.