San Francisco Labor Council Honors SAG-AFTRA for Achievements in Protections Against A.I. with Affiliate Champion Award

On April 25, the San Francisco Labor Council honored SAG-AFTRA with the Affiliate Champions Award during its annual COPE banquet at the InterContinental Hotel in San Francisco. The council, which was extremely supportive of local members throughout the 2023 TV/Theatrical/Streaming strike, awarded the union the honor for achieving new protections for performers against artificial intelligence displacement. 

SF Labor Council Executive Director Kim Tavaglione, who presented the award, put it best: the year was spent fighting so hard, it was great to take the opportunity to celebrate the wins! 

SAG-AFTRA San Francisco-Northern California Local President Kathryn Howell and Local Assistant Executive Director Dee Dee Escobedo attended the banquet to accept the award on the union's behalf. In her acceptance speech, Escobedo spoke to the gains in the new agreement for clear and conspicuous consent by performers for A.I. use and expressed gratitude to the council, elected leaders and fellow union members for their support throughout the strike, particularly during local rallies. 

Howell eloquently described the performers’ irreplaceable contribution to storytelling and emphasized the importance of their rights, protections and value under collective bargaining agreements. Both were moved by International Longshore & Warehouse Union International President William E. Adams, who was also honored that evening with the Lifetime Leadership Award. Adams personally expressed support for SAG-AFTRA and shared the sentiment that performers are also workers and an inspiration for all their union siblings.