SAG-AFTRA: The Performers' Union in Alaska

By Ron Holmstrom
Seattle Local Board Member from Alaska

Since the beginning of our film incentive program, Alaska membership in our guild has grown tremendously. Because of the newfound interest in filming in our state, I was encouraged to run for a position on the Seattle board of what was then known as Screen Actors Guild. I was then elected to the board, which includes members in Washington, Montana and Idaho. In 2012, we became SAG-AFTRA, a merger overwhelmingly approved by our membership.

SAG-AFTRA brings together two great American labor unions: Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Both were formed in the turmoil of the 1930s, with rich histories of fighting for and securing the strongest protections for media artists. Our members united to form the successor union in order to preserve those hard-won rights and to continue the struggle to extend and expand those protections into the 21st century and beyond.

SAG-AFTRA is committed to organizing all work done under our jurisdictions; negotiating the best wages, working conditions, and health and pension benefits; preserving and expanding members’ work opportunities; vigorously enforcing our contracts; and protecting members against unauthorized use of their work.

Aside from the protection of being guaranteed a safe workplace, P&H benefits and fair payment for our services, other benefits of being a member include being guaranteed residuals in productions for film, television and now even new media. As members already know, these substantial payments from past productions seem a bit like profit-sharing.

It must be noted that Alaska performers who work on non-union films and the plethora of so-called “reality" shows filming in our state are afforded no contract insuring safe working conditions, reasonable pay (if any) or reasonable hours of work. The horror stories from cast and crewmembers who have worked on these productions are legendary. Plus, they will never receive a single penny in residuals. Many of our Alaska SAG-AFTRA members receive these welcome checks in our mailboxes throughout the year. For instance, those who acted in The Frozen Ground are enjoying an additional paycheck this month. Also, residuals continue to be paid for Big Miracle and Christmas with a Capital C and TV commercials, among others.

Another fun advantage of being a SAG-AFTRA member is that every one of us votes for the annual televised SAG Awards. This means that every year, each member is given free passes or even screeners of major films to view so that we can vote for the awards.

Further, there are now free seminars available on-line at the SAG Foundation website and YouTube channel with valuable tips about casting, honing your craft and other aspects of our industry.

I would happily go on for many pages about my decades-long affiliation with our union, so suffice to say that I am always available to talk about the advantages of membership. I remain a proud member of SAG-AFTRA and am honored to serve on our Seattle Local Board.

See you in the movies!

This item was originally featured in the January 2015 local newsletter.