Twin Cities Local Leaders Meet in Los Angeles for October Plenary

For the first time in five years, the SAG-AFTRA National Board, Executive Committee and the Committee of Locals met in person in L.A.. Twin Cities Local President Casey Lewis and National Board member Randal Berger represented the Local during the extended weekend from Oct.18–21.  

The National Board deliberated on issues ranging from the video game strike to the upcoming SAG-AFTRA Commercial Contracts negotiations. One of the biggest topics of discussion was artificial intelligence and its impact on the industry’s future.  

The Committee of Locals conference on Oct. 21 featured in-depth discussions of recent broadcast organizing victories and new union resources for low-budget films. Members of the committee also participated in and learned to conduct an industry “SWOT” — Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats — analysis. The activity provided an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the unique needs and challenges of each local. The Committee of Locals is composed of the 23 locals outside of Los Angeles and New York.

It was a busy weekend, but local members and staff left with new insights and resources for their respective local boards.

Photo: From left, SAG-AFTRA Twin Cities Local President Casey Lewis, National Board member Randal Berger and Local Executive Director Bill Hendrickson at the October National Board meeting.

About SAG-AFTRA

SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other entertainment and media professionals. SAG-AFTRA members are the faces and voices that entertain and inform America and the world. A proud affiliate of the AFL-CIO, SAG-AFTRA has national offices in Los Angeles and New York and local offices nationwide representing members working together to secure the strongest protections for entertainment and media artists into the 21st century and beyond. Visit SAG-AFTRA online at SAGAFTRA.org.