Times Square Takeover

On July 25, Teamster trucks drove by Times Square, honking in support, while thousands of members of SAG-AFTRA, Writers Guild of America, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, and other unions rallied and cheered, holding their signs high.

Rock the City for a Fair Contract could not be missed. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, Secretary-Treasurer Joely Fisher, VP Los Angeles Michelle Hurd, VP New York and New York Local President Ezra Knight, and Executive Director, New York Local, Labor Policy and International Affairs Rebecca Damon were joined by members who shared stories about themselves, their families and friends as working actors, living paycheck to paycheck.

Among those making remarks were SAG-AFTRA members Christine Baranski, Tituss Burgess, Steve Buscemi, Liza Colón-Zayas, Jill Hennessy, Arian Moayed, Wendell Pierce, Nancy Giles and Christian Slater. Also in attendance were Jessica Chastain, Matt Bomer, Brendan Fraser, Ellen Burstyn, Rachel Zegler, Michael Shannon, Jane Curtin, Laura Linney and Chloë Grace Moretz.

Actor Bryan Cranston addressed Disney CEO Bob Iger directly, declaring,“We will not be having our jobs taken away and given to robots ... We will not have you take away our right to work and earn a decent living. And lastly and most importantly, we will not allow you to take away our dignity!”

This item was originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA summer 2023 magazine.