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 support the Writers Guild of America (WGA) as they engage in negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). 

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

President’s Report
President Fran Drescher applauded the reintroduction of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act and remains committed to passing this important legislation, which would give journeymen and working class performers the tax breaks they deserve after all they invest into getting a job. 

In addition, Drescher reported on the acquisition of SAG-AFTRA’s future National Headquarters and thanked National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto for their collaborative efforts in bringing the union into this new chapter of ownership, and for continuing to find better ways to serve our membership.

Drescher reported on the expiration of the COVID-19 Safety Agreement and its related protocols, effective May 11, 2023, and shared that members will be able to work on new productions regardless of vaccination status. She also shared her excitement in moving forward, in unity, towards a brighter and healthier future. 

National Executive Director’s Report
Crabtree-Ireland reported on the union’s work around artificial intelligence and activity with the Human Artistry Campaign and other industry efforts. He reiterated the union’s statement on AI and reaffirmed our position on digital voice, likeness and performance simulations, and made it clear that we will continue to prioritize the protection of our member performers against the unauthorized use of their voices, likenesses and performances. 

Noting positive feedback about the SAG Awards and the partnership with Netflix, Crabtree-Ireland shared that the SAG Awards resulted in 4.1 million streaming views across all platforms. He also reported on the results from the SAG Awards Accessibility Survey.

Reporting on the Return to Work update, Crabtree-Ireland restated that the COVID-19 Safety Agreement expires on May 11, 2023 and shared details regarding the transition which include testing for intimate scenes, as well as continued paid COVID-19 sick days. 

Crabtree-Ireland shared the theme and design for the 2023 National Convention that was voted to be virtual this year at the previous National Board meeting. The theme is ‘Future Forward Union Power’ which is represented by a fresh and unique design to reflect the forward motion and power that results from individuals coming together and working as one. 

Crabtree-Ireland introduced Executive Vice President Ben Whitehair who reported on the launch of the union’s online Member Toolkit and previewed the upcoming Events Calendar citing both as examples of the ways in which SAG-AFTRA continues to innovate for members. The Member Toolkit is now live at sagaftra.org/membertoolkit and contains quick links to every resource that a union member might need, all in one place. The online events calendar will roll out in the next few months and will keep members informed about union and local events across the country.

Finance Report
Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher and Chief Financial Officer Arianna Ozzanto presented the third quarter actuals, noting that both revenue and expenses are tracking favorable to plan. The National Board also voted to approve the recommended FY2024 budget. 

Contracts Report
The Board heard reports on various contract matters including the recently reached tentative agreement on the “It’s a Laugh” contract, which it approved. The contract covers dramatic scripted children's programs for the Disney Channel basic cable network. Additionally, the Board approved the creation of a new member committee dedicated to organizing work in the area of video games. 

Governance Report
Chief Governance and Equity & Inclusion Officer Michelle Bennett reported on several routine administrative and governance matters.
 

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.