"I'm writing because, along with the colleagues listed below, I've become aware of a problem that will soon affect all career performers. Simply put, working actors don't have the ability to approve or reject the SAG contracts we work under, or decide if we need to strike. The challenging reality is that two-thirds of SAG's 120,000 members consistently earn less than $1000 per year as SAG actors, and only 1 in 5 SAG members earns even $7,500 annually. But anyone holding a SAG card can vote on our major contracts. As a result, we have seen situations such as the 2001 TV/Theatrical referendum, where 75% of voters had less than $1000 in TV or Film earnings the previous year, or the last Commercials referendum, when more than half the voters had earned nothing under that contract for the previous five years. Not only is this unsettling. . .it's dangerous. There's a good reason virtually every union in the country - including the WGA, DGA, and Actors Equity - requires work experience to vote on contracts: because doing otherwise weakens a union's position. If those who approve or reject contracts don't have a concrete stake in the outcome, they are vulnerable to manipulation. What's more, the possibility of a job action is taken much more seriously if it comes from those who are actually doing the work. Fortunately, the fix is straightforward. SAG's Constitution requires that "all collective bargaining contracts negotiated by the Guild shall be submitted for ratification to the membership affected thereby." The Board must define who is "affected" by our major contracts, as it already has for some smaller ones, including Animation VO and Interactive Gaming; only members working in those fields receive those ballots. We need the SAG Board to fulfill its constitutional obligation by sending contract ballots only to those members who have worked a contract sufficiently to be "affected". With the TV/Theatrical contract expiring soon, the Board must act now. A group of us has come together to urge the Board to send contract ballots only to those who can reasonably be said to be affected. We will meet with SAG's top leadership soon, and we need them to know who stands with us. To succeed, our request must come from a large and influential group of members. If you agree that SAG contracts should be ratified or rejected by those who will bear the consequences, please add your name to our rapidly growing list of concerned members. These are turbulent times for our industry and unions, and potentially historic decisions will be made in the weeks and months ahead. This is an important opportunity to strengthen SAG by giving working members greater control over decisions that affect their lives and livelihoods. If you agree, please let me know that we have your support."

Add your name to the supporters list by clicking here. In mid-February, the next message went out. The proposal it contained was geared toward SAG, however the updated proposal will be introduced at both SAG and AFTRA.

 

Dear Colleague, Thank you for supporting our effort to strengthen SAG by giving working performers an effective voice in the upcoming contract negotiation. In less than two weeks, over 1000 supporters have added their names to our petition. We're meeting this week with President Rosenberg to ask for his help in bringing this matter to the Board for resolution prior to the TV/Theatrical contract negotiation. The Board needs to reasonably define "affected" members - those eligible to vote on the contract. Here's what we will propose: THE INITIAL PROPOSAL HAS BEEN REVISED CLICK HERE FOR THE UPDATED PROPOSAL For TV/Theatrical contract voting, an affected member is any member in good standing who over the previous 2 contract terms (6 years), or total years as member if less than 6 years: 1.  Performed an average of 5 days principal work or 15 days background work per year (or an equivalent mix thereof); OR 2.  Had average residual earnings per year equivalent to 5 principal days at scale; OR 3.  Is fully vested in the SAG Producers Pension Plan. We believe this reasonably takes into account the ups and downs of the business for currently working members, and is flexible enough to include members who, while perhaps not currently working, still have a concrete stake in the negotiations. You may hear this effort criticized as elitist, but the response from our supporters suggests otherwise. They include many SAG members who wouldn't vote on some contracts under this structure - but who recognize the power of putting contract decisions in the hands of members who work those contracts. Like a young L.A. member who wrote that she "would be happy for you to add my name although I definitely count among those not affected". Or the commercial performer who "has not yet worked under SAG's TV/Theatrical contract, but. . .completely understands the need for this change". And a member in Baltimore who says, "Way to go. Please sign me up. And even I shouldn't vote on contracts - I don't work under often enough!" We hope you will continue to spread the word. We are also reaching out to AFTRA to schedule discussions and will keep you apprised of our progress. Meanwhile, please consider taking part in the Wages and Working Conditions Committee meetings at the various SAG offices for the next two weeks, where you can weigh in on the actual contract proposals. Sincerely, Amy Brenneman & Ned Vaughn