SCREEN ACTORS GUILD MEMBERS OVERWHELMINGLY APPROVE NEW DUES AND INITIATION FEE STRUCTURE

Los Angeles (February 15, 2007)—In a national vote completed today, members of Screen Actors Guild voted overwhelmingly to approve a dues and initiation fee increase. The membership voted 68 percent to 32 percent in favor of the proposed structure. Twenty-seven percent of the approximately 114,000 paid-up SAG members who received ballots voted. The final vote was certified this afternoon by Integrity Voting Systems in Everett, Washington.

“I commend the membership for their vote of confidence. We will use these new funds wisely to implement our strategic plans,” SAG President Alan Rosenberg said. “By generating a potential $5-7 million a year, we can move forward and expand our organizing and emerging technology departments, conduct critical research and maximize our leverage heading into our contract negotiations in 2008.”

The affirmative vote represents the first SAG dues increase since 1999 and only the second increase in 19 years. Starting with the May 2007 bi-annual dues period, base dues will increase by $16 a year for members earning less than $500,000 per year, and $16 plus an increase in work dues for those who earn over $500,000 per year. The earnings cap—income subject to work dues—has been raised from $500,000 to $1 million. Actors earning between $500,001 and $1 million will now pay 0.25% of those earnings.

The Guild’s initiation fee will rise from $1,474 to $2,211 effective February 16, 2007 (many branch offices will continue to have lower initiation fees in place.)

“We are committed to enhancing member services and bettering the lives of all actors. Our elected leaders and our professional staff will work together to ensure that these new financial resources will help us to achieve our objectives over the coming months and years,” SAG’s National Executive Director Doug Allen said.

As part of this referendum, the membership also approved constitutional amendments that were proposed to change current election and referendum requirements. The membership voted 81 percent to 19 percent in favor of the proposed amendments. Twenty-six percent of the approximately 114,000 eligible SAG members that received ballots returned a vote on this issue.

Ballots were sent to eligible voting members on January 16 and were due back today by 5 p.m. PST. Please click here to see the full text of the ballot and the referendum mailed to Guild members.