National Board adopts resolution reaffirming the union’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility, forms Intimacy Coordinator Agreement Negotiations Committee and receives operations updates.
The SAG-AFTRA National Board met Saturday in a one-day videoconference plenary.
The Board heard reports on administrative, finance, governance and legal matters and adopted a resolution reaffirming the union’s commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the entertainment industry. A statement regarding the resolution is below.
The resolution is a reaffirmation of the union’s principles and its commitment to our contractual provisions that hold the industry accountable for accurately depicting the American Scene. The recommendation was referred to the Board by, and with the unanimous support of, the SAG-AFTRA Diversity Advisory Committee.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher said, “Our strength is to influence Americans by example — to always raise the bar on the dream of ‘... one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.’ And, to hold to that promise of equity, diversity, accessibility and inclusion both on screens and behind the scenes. We take seriously our ability and commitment to normalize the great American Scene.”
SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland said, “The National Board’s unanimous approval of this resolution reaffirming diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility principles as a core priority of SAG-AFTRA sends an important message about our union’s continued commitment to ensuring all members have the opportunity to meaningfully participate in the industry. Our employers have contractual obligations not only to accurately portray the American Scene, but also to take specific, concrete steps to advance equal employment opportunity. We look forward to their continued support of and adherence to these objectives.”
In other business, the Board voted to form the Intimacy Coordinator Agreement Negotiating Committee, which will oversee the wages and working conditions process and develop a recommended set of proposals for the 2025 Intimacy Coordinator Agreement Negotiations. Wages and working conditions meetings are expected to start as early as April 2025 and negotiations are expected to commence at a time to be determined later this year.
The Board also received various operations reports, including:
President’s Report
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher acknowledged the hardships caused by the Los Angeles wildfires and expressed her gratitude to the SAG-AFTRA Foundation for the assistance provided to members in need. She thanked the union’s members and staff for their quick publication of comprehensive resources and support for members affected by the fires.
Drescher also lauded the success of the recent Netflix broadcast of the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, noting that the union’s much-loved awards show is both an extraordinary celebration of SAG-AFTRA members’ talents and a significant source of fundraising for the SAG-AFTRA Foundation.
Drescher added that she has met with the leadership of other creative unions and industry organizations to discuss common interests in fighting the threat of artificial intelligence and ensuring a strong, vibrant entertainment and media business.
National Executive Director’s Report
National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland acknowledged SAG-AFTRA member broadcast journalists for their courage in reporting from the front lines of the Los Angeles wildfires, as well as the risks they take around the country and the world to ensure the public is well-informed and has access to crucial and reliable reporting and information.
Crabtree-Ireland also discussed the success of the 2025 Labor Innovation & Technology Summit, which took place Jan. 7–8 in Las Vegas. Crabtree-Ireland noted that this year’s conference, produced in partnership with the summit’s other co-founders, the AFL-CIO and the AFL-CIO Tech Institute, hosted more than 200 registered delegates from more than 30 AFL-CIO affiliated unions who attended roughly two dozen programmed events, with a particular focus on the impact of artificial intelligence technologies on workers across all industries.
Crabtree-Ireland updated the Board on urgent legislative efforts, including the federal NO FAKES Act, the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act, and the Take it Down Act.
Crabtree-Ireland announced the union’s new weekly educational video series Take 5 and shared updates on various union operations. Crabtree-Ireland also provided confidential reports regarding the union’s video game strike. He reported that the union has signed more than 160 games to its interim or independent agreements, which contain the essential A.I. protections the union has been demanding at the negotiating table.
Crabtree-Ireland previewed some elements of the union’s negotiating calendar, including confidential updates on its negotiations with the commercial advertising industry, which began Feb. 18, and previewed upcoming talks on the Network Television Code, Music Video Agreement, the Intimacy Coordinator Agreement, and other contract bargaining.
Executive Vice President Linda Powell chaired the afternoon session during which the Board received administrative and operational reports from its leadership and staff including:
Finance Report
Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented results for the 2025 second quarter financials, reporting that they were tracking higher in revenue and lower in expenses than expected. On the recommendation of the Finance Committee, the Board allowed automatic 2% annual increases to the union’s initiation fee and dues to take effect on May 1.
In other business, the Board voted unanimously to expand the Senior Dues Waiver by increasing the income cap for those qualifying from $5,000 to $10,000 of earnings under SAG-AFTRA contracts, and approved a dues extension for eligible performers experiencing hardship relating to the ongoing video games strike.
Contracts Report
Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez joined Crabtree-Ireland in presenting the contracts report including a recommendation on forming the Intimacy Coordinator Agreement Negotiations Committee to develop proposals and conduct negotiations.
They also reported on the Commercials Contracts negotiations with the Joint Policy Committee and the video games strike, applauded the hard work of the Interactive Media Agreement negotiating committee, and addressed efforts to continue putting pressure on the employers.
Governance Report
Chief Governance and Equity & Inclusion Officer Michelle Bennett provided updates on various administrative and governance matters, including early preparations for the 2025 SAG-AFTRA national convention.
The Board unanimously approved Oct. 25-27 for the convention.
The meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m. PT.
SAG-AFTRA Statement on Upholding the Authentic Depiction of the American Scene
On March 15, 2025, during its videoconference plenary, the SAG-AFTRA National Board adopted a resolution acknowledging the crucial role of diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility in the authentic portrayal of the American Scene and unanimously reaffirmed the union’s commitment to these principles, and to holding employers accountable for their contractual obligations to them.
SAG-AFTRA’s Constitution expressly establishes advocacy for diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and equal employment opportunity as specific union objectives. SAG-AFTRA collective bargaining agreements have included provisions requiring the industry to reflect the diversity of the American Scene in casting and employment practices since 1963. Since that time, the union has continuously advocated for meaningful representation of historically underrepresented communities across entertainment and media.
The resolution declares, “Diversity, equity and inclusion are not only moral imperatives but also crucial to the creative and economic vitality of our industry, ensuring that stories told on screen resonate with and reflect the lived experiences of all audiences.” It further acknowledges that “systemic barriers to full and fair inclusion, equal employment opportunity and accessibility persist, requiring continued vigilance and advocacy to ensure that progress is maintained and accelerated,” and further asserts that “the accurate and authentic portrayal of the American Scene is essential to the integrity and credibility of the entertainment and media industry.”
SAG-AFTRA will be engaging directly with employers in the coming weeks and months to reaffirm their obligations under the various SAG-AFTRA contracts and that they remain in full compliance with those commitments.
The full text of the resolution is available to read here.
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.