For decades, actors and recording artists in California have been denied the freedom and flexibility to pursue a paycheck by outdated and unfair employment contracts. Actors are unilaterally held off the market for extended periods of time by production studios, and recording artists are kept in long-term contracts that are virtually impossible to leave.
SAG-AFTRA, in partnership with Music Artists Coalition, Black Music Action Coalition and the California Labor Federation, has been pursuing a legislative solution to bring contracts into the modern age through the California Free Artists from Industry Restrictions, or “FAIR,” Act.
In a March 2022 hearing before the California Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment, SAG-AFTRA actor Ginnifer Goodwin presented compelling testimony on behalf of performers who have been adversely impacted by unfair contracts that keep them in a virtual career limbo. Goodwin reminded the Committee that these one-sided contracts favor only studios, networks and streaming services, and are in dire need of equitable revision.
In April, SAG-AFTRA and its coalition partners agreed to bifurcate the legislation into two separate bills to give all of the stakeholders the time and flexibility needed to fully educate legislators.
The next steps for both bills will be revealed shortly. Please stay tuned.
As an organization representing both actors and recording artists, SAG-AFTRA will continue to mobilize resources on both fronts. Recording artists must be released from one-sided agreements that have no expiration, and actors must be liberated from the exclusive holds that keep them from working when they wish to work. The engagement and passion from the creative community has already made it clear that these issues will not go away until there is a resolution.
SAG-AFTRA looks forward to continuing to educate the California Assembly and Senate about the urgency in addressing these pressing concerns. California succeeds when the artists and employers in our industries work together, and these two issues are critical to that success.
This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine spring 2022 issue.