SAG-AFTRA’s leadership and staff continue to be recognized for their successful efforts during the TV/ Theatrical/Streaming contract negotiations, including its 118-day strike.
SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher has been named a 2024 Women of Influence honoree, a recognition bestowed by Crain’s New York Business. At a luncheon saluting Drescher and other remarkable women, she said that success was about “making sure folks felt heard, not muzzled. Respected, not marginalized.” Crain’s New York Business is a branch of the media company Crain Communications. Based in Detroit, the company reaches 78 million readers globally across digital platforms.
SeriesFest, a nonprofit organization known for its focus on the television industry, recognized SAG-AFTRA during its 10th anniversary festival, SeriesFest: Season 10. The union was the recipient of the Luminaries in Television Award in recognition of its longtime partnership and integral support of SeriesFest’s live read programming and Storytellers Initiative, an annual scriptwriting competition spotlighting innovative scriptwriting and storytelling from rising talent.
Among those present were SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Linda Powell; Vice President, Los Angeles Jodi Long; Vice President, Actors/Performers Shari Belafonte; National Board member Nancy Flanagan; Colorado Local President Sonny G. and Local Secretary Denis Berkfeldt; and National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, who accepted the award on the union’s behalf.
The union was awarded the Issues and Crisis Campaign of the Year Award at the 2024 PRWeek Global Awards. The annual competition by the international publication honors the world’s best campaigns, agencies, in-house teams and communications professionals in the world, across 39 global regions and territories.
SAG-AFTRA also received the 2024 North American SABRE Gold Award for International Multimarket Campaign. The SABRE — or Superior Achievement in Branding Reputation and Engagement — Awards are hosted by PRovoke Media. Additionally, SAG-AFTRA’s strike campaign was included in the top five contenders for Best of Show, ranking third out of 2,000 entries, including campaigns crafted by McDonald’s, the category winner, and second-place recipient Dove.
SAG-AFTRA Chief Communications & Marketing Officer Pamela Greenwalt attended both ceremonies and accepted the awards on the union’s behalf, with National Board member Liz Zazzi accompanying her to the SABRE Awards.
For its leadership role in the labor movement, SAG-AFTRA received the 2024 Bridge Award from the Working Theater, a New York-based theater company that recognizes “achievements in advancing labor rights at the crossroads of arts, labor and community.” SAG-AFTRA New York Local member S. Epatha Merkerson and Chief Labor Policy Officer and New York Local Executive Director Rebecca Damon attended, with Damon accepting the honor on the union’s behalf.
Previously, the union was included on Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies list, and received the “Premio Especial” from the Spanish actors union, Unión de Actores y Actrices.
Photo: SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher at the Women of Influence luncheon on May 1.
This item originally featured in the SAG-AFTRA summer 2024 magazine issue.
