The #Unionmember Advantage in 140 Characters or Less:
Anika Noni Rose, RJ Mitte, Rosanne Cash, Pam Grier, Candace Cameron Bure, Christopher Gorham
and Other Celebs Speak Out for Workers during Labor Day Tweet-a-Thon
This Labor Day, actors, America’s athletes, recording artists, Broadway performers, and broadcasters made it clear that they have one thing in common: they’re proud to be union members. In 140 characters or less, these high-profile tweeters came together with other union members and workers’ rights supporters from across the country to celebrate the role unions play in creating fair workplaces—and a fair economy.
Thousands of tweets were sent by union members and their supporters throughout the weekend about what it means to be a #unionmember on the field, the set, or the factory floor—creating 13.5 million impressions on millions of Twitter users.
Athletes and celebrities who participated in this year’s Tweet-a-Thon include:
Actors
“Make It or Break It” star Candace Cameron Bure (@CandacecBure); “Covert Affairs” star Christopher Gorham (@Chris_Gorham); actress Gabrielle Carteris (@TheGabrielle_C) of “Beverly Hills, 90210” fame; television, film and Broadway veteran Peter Gallagher (@PeterGallagher); “Jackie Brown” and “Foxy Brown” star Pam Grier (@PamGrier); star of “Melissa & Joey” and “Sabrina the Teenage Witch” Melissa Joan Hart (@MellyJHart); stand-up comic Loni Love (@LoniLove); “Breaking Bad” star RJ Mitte (@RjMitte); "Dream Girls" star Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose); legendary star of “Happy Days” Henry Winkler (@hwinkler4real); and comedian, writer and co-creator of “The Daily Show” Lizz Winstead (@lizzwinstead).
Baseball
Toronto’s Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19), Tampa’s Evan Longoria (@evan3longoria), Cincinnati’s Brandon Phillips (@DatDudeBP); Tampa’s David Price (@davidprice14); Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins (@JimmyRollins11); and Texas’ C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer).
Football
Denver Bronco Brian Dawkins (@BrianDawkins); St. Louis Ram Steven Jackson (@sj39); Dallas Cowboy Felix Jones (@felixjones28); Denver Bronco Von Miller (@MillerLite40); Buffalo Bill Kirk Morrison (@kirkmorrison); San Diego Charger Takeo Spikes (@TakeoSpikes51); and Washington Redskin Donte’ Stallworth (@DonteStallworth).
Musicians
Recording artist Rosanne Cash (@RosanneCash); American punk rock band the Dropkick Murphys (@dropkickmurphys); American punk/electronica band Le Tigre (@letigreworld); and lead guitarist for the Foo Fighters Chris Shiflett (@ChrisShiflett71).
High-profile tweets from this weekend include:
"Make It or Break It" star Candace Cameron Bure (@CandacecBure)
I'm proud to be a #unionmember! Enjoy your labor day weekend. Giving a shout out to my union #sagmember
Television, film and Broadway star Peter Gallagher (@PeterGallagher)
Happy Labor Day! #UnionMember #SAGMember. Thanks to all who built SAG, our union, can't IMAGINE what life/work would be without you!
"Community" star Yvette Nicole Brown (@YvettenBrown)
I am PROUD to be a union member! @ScreenActors @AFTRA! Happy Labor Day weekend, everybody! @araw #unionmember http://umem.us
Recording artist Rosanne Cash (@RosanneCash)
This weekend, lots of union tweets for Labor Day. I'm a proud member of three unions. #aftramember #unionmember #AFTRA #AFM #SAG
Actor and "Pretty Little Liars" star Chad Lowe (@ichadlowe)
Happy #LaborDay! Remember this country was built on the backs of Labor! And I am proudly pro union!
"That ’70s Show" star Kurtwood Smith (@tahitismith)
I've been a member of a performers union since '66 still proud .. still grateful! #aeamember #sagmember #aftramember #unionmember
American punk rock band the Dropkick Murphys (@dropkickmurphys)
How are you spending #LaborDay? Don't forget to thank a local #unionmember for their hard work this year.
Toronto right fielder & MLB home run champion Jose Bautista (@JoeyBats19)
Thanks to the @MLB_PLAYERS and all of those who paved the way so we can have our voices heard in our workplace #unionmember
Bengals quarterback Bruce Gradkowski (@bgradkowski5)
A level playing field is important in every workplace not just the #NFL. Proud to be a #unionmember this #LaborDay weekend! Please RT!
Rams running back Steven Jackson (@sj39)
As the holiday wknd approaches #LaborDay I support workers' rights and I'm proud to be a #unionmember of @NFLPA.
Falcons tight end Reggie Kelly (@ReggieKelly82)
Happy #LaborDay weekend to all #NFL fans, be safe. Praying 4 those with jobs & those who looking. I’m happy 2 be a #unionmember of @NFLPA
Stand-up comic Loni Love (@LoniLove)
Proud to be a #unionmember #actor of #sag and #aftra. Without actor unions some would be working 20 hour days with no rights #tweet-a-thon
Texas pitcher C.J. Wilson (@str8edgeracer)
Labor Day weekend is always a reminder of how lucky I am to be a #UnionMember - thanks to all the players before me that laid the groundwork
Colorado left fielder Eric Young, Jr. (@EYJr)
As a player, I have a voice in Major League Baseball. Being a #unionmember gives me that voice.
The annual Labor Day Tweet-a-Thon is a joint project of workers’ rights group American Rights at Work, the MLBPA, the NFLPA, and the country’s leading entertainment unions, Actors’ Equity, AFTRA, SAG, and WGAE.
For more information and a complete roundup of celebrity #unionmember tweets, visit http://www.unionmember.org.
# # #
CONTACT: Pamela Greenwalt
SAG, Communications Executive Director
(323) 549-6872
pgreenwalt@sag.org
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