Steward Training Focuses on Personal Contracts

The union continued its virtual training for shop stewards this spring with two more interactive webinars. Taking place on April 28, with morning and afternoon sessions, the discussions focused on the benefits and pitfalls of personal services contracts.

Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro, who hosted the one-hour meetings, noted that many broadcast members are working under two contracts: the union contract and a personal services contract. These personal agreements do not supersede the minimum protections of the union contract, however.

Cavallaro fielded questions from broadcasters, discussing exclusivity and noncompete provisions, among other topics. She also highlighted concerns about one-sided provisions that employers have been adding to these contracts, such as ones that lock employees into a term of employment but leave the company free to end the contract prematurely. Note that members can always ask SAG-AFTRA for a free consultation to review the language in a personal services contract before they sign it.

The purpose of these ongoing webinars is to familiarize stewards with the most common issues they and their fellow members face. In February, the training sessions centered on the roles and responsibilities of a steward, including being a member liaison, station ambassador and contract enforcer.

The News & Broadcast Department has also created an informative manual that outlines the duties of being a shop steward. Contact your staff liaison at your local for an electronic copy.

This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA magazine summer 2022 issue.