SAG-AFTRA National Board Meets via Videoconference

The SAG-AFTRA National Board met Saturday in a scheduled one-day videoconference plenary. The Board unanimously voted to appoint members of the 2023 TV/Theatrical Wages and Working Conditions and Plenary Committee, which will be chaired by SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher.

The committee will oversee the member-led wages and working conditions process and the subsequent negotiations for successor agreements to the TV/Theatrical contracts during bargaining expected to commence in 2023. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland will serve as chief negotiator of the contract with Chief Contracts Officer Ray Rodriguez as lead negotiator.

“I’ve looked forward to chairing the TV/Theatrical Wages and Working Conditions and Plenary Committee since my election. These agreements account for hundreds of millions of dollars in member earnings and therefore are amongst our most important negotiations,” Drescher said. “We’ve assembled a great negotiating committee along with staff and National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland. We’re rolling up our sleeves; ready to dive into the W&Ws with optimistic ambition. The winds of change are blowing so button up – it’s a new season!”

Crabtree-Ireland said, “Tens of thousands of SAG-AFTRA members make their living from work under our TV/Theatrical contracts and from the streamers. I am eager to work alongside our dedicated, elected leadership, and with our energized membership to fight for improved wages and working conditions that keep us ahead of the curve of the technological evolution that is the only new constant in our industry.”

In other business, SAG-AFTRA members continued their work of putting in place additional self-tape protections for members. The Board adopted a joint resolution by the Low Budget Committee and the TV/Theatrical Standing Committee that affirms page restrictions on all self-tapes under the low budget agreements. In addition, a newly seated Self-Tape Committee will coordinate the ongoing work of various union committees around self-taping.

In addition, the union announced a set of flexible new podcast-specific contracts and the creation of a dedicated podcast department. 

There are now two options for podcasters: the MicroPod Agreement for podcasts that generate less than $10,000 of income per year or season, and the Independent Podcast Agreement for podcasts that generate $10,000 or more in earnings. More information on the new Podcast Contracts can be found at sagaftra.org/podcastcontracts. The new Podcast Department will be headed by National Director Sue-Anne Morrow. 

“Our new podcast-specific contracts and simple, producer-friendly approach to signing projects make it easy for podcast producers to work with world-class professional talent under a SAG-AFTRA contract,” said Crabtree-Ireland.  

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

President’s Report

Drescher opened her report with a call to action to support California’s Proposition 28, which will funnel nearly $1 billion in arts and music education funding into California public schools.

Staying on the topic of the upcoming midterm elections, Drescher updated the Board about efforts to get out the vote, imploring members to do their civic duty regardless of their political affiliation. She announced an upcoming panel discussion on voting and voting rights held in partnership with the National Football League Players Association, Rock the Vote and the Brennan Center. The panel will be available to view on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. PT on SAG-AFTRA’s YouTube channel.

Drescher updated the Board on the activities of the Green Council, noting a number of new members and the group’s focused mission of banning single-use plastic on sets and onscreen. “We have a tremendous opportunity to normalize eco-responsible living through eco-responsible entertainment and leveraging the voices of our most recognizable members,” said Drescher.

On the legislative front, Drescher reported on efforts to support the American Music Fairness Act, the CROWN Act and the Performing Artists Tax Parity Act, or PATPA. The American Music Fairness Act will ensure that singers and musicians are paid when their work is played on AM/FM radio. The CROWN Act prohibits discrimination based on a person's hair texture for all federally-assisted programs, housing programs, public accommodations, and employment. Drescher noted that a statement of support for this legislation, signed by members of the National Board and dozens of influential performers, was delivered to Congress.

Drescher highlighted that support for PATPA has grown exponentially due to the efforts of SAG-AFTRA and our coalition partners. The bill will allow critical above-the-line business expense tax deductions for performing artists.

National Executive Director’s Report

Crabtree-Ireland began his report by congratulating Bob Butler and Ilyssa Fradin, recipients of the Howard Keel Awards, which are given by the Committee of Locals in recognition of their significant contributions to SAG-AFTRA.

Crabtree-Ireland gave a brief update on the status of several contracts, noting that both the Network Television Code and Netflix Agreements had been ratified by members since the last National Board plenary. He also reflected on the significance of the groundbreaking exclusivity improvements that were secured in the Netflix Agreement and with the AMPTP. “These changes will benefit members across the country and around the world – anywhere they are working under a SAG-AFTRA contract,” he said.

A recurring theme in Crabtree-Ireland’s report was the many ways the union is adapting and innovating to make sure members have an opportunity to have as much of their work covered as possible so contributions can be made toward benefit plans and the work can be done under the protections of a union agreement. He reported that since its introduction less than a year ago, there have been more than $6 million in covered earnings under the Influencer Agreement, plus even more under the Influencer Waiver. He also noted that the union is actively investigating and acting on developing technologies including AI, the metaverse, NFTs and other technologies to ensure SAG-AFTRA members are protected and can take advantage of newly developing areas of work.

Crabtree-Ireland shared an update on SAG-AFTRA’s attendance at the recent International Federation of Actors (FIA) Executive Committee meeting. Among the items considered during these meetings were the ratification process for the Beijing Treaty, a resolution on the collection and distribution of royalties, and support for ACTRA, the Canadian performers union, in their ongoing fight to protect their commercials contract.

Finance Report

Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2023, noting that the union is on solid financial footing and tracking favorable to plan. 

Governance and Legal Reports

Executive Vice President Ben Whitehair, General Counsel Jeffrey P. Bennett and Chief Governance and Equity & Inclusion Officer Michelle Bennett reported on various legal and governance matters. 

The meeting adjourned at 7:02 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.