Union Tech Innovations Help Us Move Forward Together

As we move through this time of pandemic, we’ve all become more reliant on the internet and technology for our communications. SAG-AFTRA continues to be hard at work, serving our membership through a series of new and updated innovations that streamline our interactions with the union. SAG-AFTRA New Mexico Local Board member Frances Lee McCain provided this update:

- MEMBERSHIP ENROLLMENT. Joining the union can now be done entirely online. Gone are the days of downloading cumbersome documentation. The union’s new process eliminates the time-consuming paper process — for both new members and staff — and allows staff more time to focus on member engagement. The online joining process also includes access to the digital new member handbook, which is a great resource for all things SAG-AFTRA related.

- THE MEMBER APP is an essential tool, with all the union’s online information available instantly at our fingertips. If you’re not already using it, give it a try. CLICK HERE to get started. 

- CONTACT CENTER. Accessible to both members, pre-members and employers, the Contact Center is the place to go for quick assistance with a question or problem.  It streamlines the process, so anyone calling or emailing can get to the right place or have a question answered quickly. Since its inception, it has answered 98.5% of questions posed through web-based self-service options.

- THE YOUNG PERFORMERS HANDBOOK is now online, providing comprehensive and invaluable information for young performers and their families. Find the link under the Membership & Benefits tab at sagaftra.org. CLICK HERE to view a copy of this digital publication.

Already in the pipeline, some in beta testing now, the following are more technological advances for essential services that will expedite our interactions with our union.

- CLAIMS REPORTING. Claims tracking is already available through the member portal on the SAG-AFTRA website, but a new reporting feature is in its final stages. This will streamline the resolution of members’ claims for payments and royalties, while providing more transparency and less staff time.  

- SEXUAL HARASSMENT REPORTING APP. Will allow members to report incidents of sexual harassment quickly. It will also offer referrals for therapeutic, legal and law enforcement assistance and help identify serial offenders. The union also has created a safety booklet titled Sex, Nudity and You which contains best practices and information about your rights as a performer.

- CAST CLEARANCE & TAFT-HARTLEY ONLINE. When these tools come online, they will be a great advantage for our casting directors and production companies, allowing swift overview of clearance of cast for employment and allowing each Taft-Hartley submission greater accuracy and speed of completion.

STAYING SAFE! "As you can see, our union continues to explore and create ways for us to stay connected, safe and informed as we continue to navigate these unprecedented times in our history,” said McCain. "Perhaps the most challenging is the codifying and overseeing of protocols for COVID-safe sets that we have undertaken with our sister unions in the industry. It is the responsibility of all of us to follow the guidelines and respect the safety measures others have worked hard to create and enforce."