Screen Actors Guild Voices Strong Support for Actors' Equity

Los Angeles (June 21, 2004) – Screen Actors Guild (SAG) today passed a resolution voicing its strong support for Actors’ Equity in their ongoing negotiations with producers.

“We support our sister union Actors’ Equity in these critical contract talks,” said SAG President Melissa Gilbert. “The 120,000 members of Screen Actors Guild stand squarely behind Equity in solidarity, and we hope they will reach a fair, equitable contract this week."

WHEREAS, Actors’ Equity Association is the standard of excellence in the theater, representing more than 45,000 stage actors and stage managers across the country and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association has, throughout its 90 year history, contributed to the professionalism of Broadway and the American theater and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association has fought to ensure better wages, working conditions, pension, health insurance, safety rules and other benefits for its members and thereby setting standards for all theatrical union members and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association believes that every Actor and every American has the right to comprehensive health insurance and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association has a proud tradition of contributing to the overall good of American society by fighting against segregation, blacklisting and discrimination; and by supporting funding for the arts and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association is embroiled in seminal negotiations which affect Broadway and road shows and is critical to the quality of live theater everywhere and

WHEREAS, Actors' Equity Association is honorable in its current fight against non-Equity road tours and to maintain high standards of quality and equitable terms for all actors and stage managers and

WHEREAS, Actors’ Equity Association has always stood by its brothers and sisters in the labor movement, and with the theatrical unions in particular, to protect the professionalism and dignity for all working Americans,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that Screen Actors Guild pledges complete and absolute support to Actors' Equity Association in their struggle to maintain the quality of live theater and the dignity and respect of all of its 45,000 members.