Dear Member,
We at Unite for Strength believe elections should be run legally.
We support the findings of the NOLA election committee in overturning the NOLA election based on illegal employer contributions to the Membership First backed candidates in New Orleans.
We strongly considered filing a similar protest in Los Angeles as detailed in the LA Times on 8/21/19LA TIMES: Film School’s Ties with Matthew Modine Face Scrutiny in Heated SAG-AFTRA Election
Matthew Modine and Membership First, explicitly and irrefutably, violated Section 401(g) of the Labor Management Reporting and Disclosure Act; the labor law governing union elections.
Legal scholars agree that Membership First violated this law and willingly accepted employer donations from NYFA; and finally removed the videos only when a reporter started asking questions about their legality.
These employer-produced campaign videos gained over 15,000 views on YouTube alone and offered an illegal and unfair advantage to Mr. Modine and Membership First.
While we know that these violations impacted the results of the Los Angeles local elections, we also understand that our first priority is to our members.
Filing an election challenge would have absolutely overturned the local election based on the evidence; leading to a brand new election in the Los Angeles local. However, we determined that as painful as the results were, re-running the election would not be in the best interest of our almost 80,000 Los Angeles members.
The hundreds of thousands of dollars and complete displacement of SAG-AFTRA staff's time right before a major negotiation is too great a price to bear. We continue to balance the need for fair elections with the crucial interest of getting on with the business of our union; protecting members and negotiating strong contracts.
We ask that our fellow SAG-AFTRA members, especially those in Los Angeles, take a serious and critical look at Membership First's illegal actions that contributed to the results in our local and evaluate, for themselves, whether this is behavior we are willing to condone.
SAG-AFTRA is in the business of legally protecting members and it is crucial that any person or group that seeks election at least follows the law themselves.
Our members deserve nothing less.
In Solidarity,
Unite for Strength
Our membership is diverse and so are the contracts you work. We believe leaders should reflect the people they represent. We also believe our union should cover the variety of ways you earn a living.
The only constant in life is change. In order to prepare for it, one must have the ability to know which direction it is going. This requires foresight, and leaders who continuously study shifts in this ever-changing industry, to better position your ability to earn a living; today and well into the future.
It’s all about the work. The work of finding solutions to the issues that concern you every day of your career. Talk is cheap, however, having something to show for it is priceless. We’re committed to not just telling you how we plan to improve working conditions, we pledge to show it to you; both in the contracts you work and the leadership we provide.
Long gone are the days of working for only three broadcast networks. In the age of streaming services the opportunities for employment has multiplied by the hundreds. Our industry isn’t as simple as it was “back in the day”. We consider that a good thing, because with your work now being seen by a global audience, the opportunities to earn more money has multiplied. Making sure that your checks reflect this new landscape is one of our top priorities in the boardroom.
No one, repeat, no one should feel unsafe on the job. From stunt safety to sexual harassment, we are committed to making sure your job is conducted in professional and respectful environment. This commitment also extends to the audition process. Your first priority is to do a good job as a performer; our first priority is to help you focus on your job; and nothing else.
Times are tough. We’re also feeling the pain of a rapidly changing industry. Like you, our heads are spinning trying to stay ahead of the curve. However, we’re not letting that stop us from setting the best foundation possible for when the dust settles and ensure that your future is everything you’ve ever dreamed. We can control how the industry changes, but we can control how we prepare for them.
I have been honored to serve on Local and National boards. Making a living acting under multiple contracts over the years has compelled me to serve our members. I will continue our fight for online privacy. As Chair of LA GAPP, we helped secure five more years of Tax incentives in CA to 2025 and lobbied DC for a bill to reclaim our tax deductions. Helped create SPA and will work to continue increasing our pay in Low Budget New Media & Films and improve our claims resolutions. Online Privacy (Chair), Government Affairs and Public Policy (Chair), Low Budget (Chair), SAGIndie, TV/Theatrical, Military Personnel and Families Support, National & Local Women’s committee.
I am running for the National Board because I believe in our union and the good it does for each of us. As a member for 23 years who has been blessed to work in nearly every area of the industry, I know that there is no industry issue too big for all of us to handle. Further, I know that we are better when we all realize that we’re in this together. I look forward to being a productive part of all the good we will do in the future.
Octavia Spencer, Bryan Cranston, Geena Davis, Alan Alda, James Cromwell, Rita Moreno, J.K. Simmons, Jane Lynch, Alec Baldwin, Rosario Dawson, Clark Gregg, Maria Bello, Noah Wyle, Camryn Manheim, Mike Colter, Margo Martindale, Jason Priestley, Jon Huertas, Marcia Gay Harden, Michael Cudlitz, Tichina Arnold, Adam Arkin, John Cho, Selma Blair, Jason George, Mike Farrell, Rhea Perlman, Yvette Nicole Brown, Adrian Martinez, Lisa Vidal, Robert Patrick, Michelle Hurd, Jack Speer, Joe Krebs, Michael O'Neill, D.W. Moffett, John Carroll Lynch, Keythe Farley, Cort Hessler, Omid Abtahi, Kate Maberly, David Wenham, Shawn Ashmore, James Callis, Mike Pniewski, Sarah Carter, James Lesure, Linda Park, Victor Webster, Laura Campbell, Marnette Patterson, Jamie Sorrentini, Pej Vahdat, David Cubitt, Laura Coover, Yan Feldman, Spencer Garrett, Catherine Dent, Patrick Fabian, Robert Pine, Jenny O'Hara, David Hartley-Margolin, Jim Kerr, Ellen Crawford, Chantal Cousineau, Iqbal Theba, Lee Purcell, Tom Choi, Parvesh Cheena, Dawnn Lewis, Kate Flannery, Kate Linder, Vivicca Whitsett, William Charlton, Nitasha Bhambree, Woody Schultz, Hal Eisner, Janice Pendarvis, Joy Benedict, Bobbie Bates, Jasper Randall, Bob Butler, John Rothman, Keri Tombazian, Jeff Spurgeon, Katie Barberi, Delanna Studi, Stephen Lang, Loretta Swit, Tamlyn Tomita, and Mike Genovese.
NATIONWIDE SUPPORT
Over 100 SAG-AFTRA LEADERS from ALL 25 LOCALS support Gabrielle Carteris
NATIONAL OFFICERS | Rebecca Damon (Executive Vice President), Clyde Kusatsu (Vice President, Los Angeles), Liz Zazzi (Vice President, New York), Ilyssa Fradin (Vice President, Mid-Sized Locals), Suzanne Burkhead (Vice President, Small Locals), Samantha Mathis (Vice President, Actors/Performers), Catherine Brown (Vice President, Broadcasters), Dan Navarro (Vice President, Recording Artists) ARIZONA-UTAH | Joe Corcoran (President), Margie Ghigo (National Board Member), Billy Holden (Vice President), Ted Raymond ATLANTA | Ric Reitz (President), Debra Nelson (National Board Member), Mike Pniewski (1st Vice President), Clayton Landey (2nd Vice President), Yolanda Asher (Secretary), Wilbur Fitzgerald (Former President), Ray Benitez, Eric Goins, Jon Hayden, Doug Kaye, Sheila Maddox, Michelle Rivera, Barry Stoltze, , Adena Brumer CHICAGO | Charles Andrew Gardner (President), John Carter Brown (National Board Member), Richard Shavzin (National Board Member) COLORADO | Sheila Ivy Traister (President and National Board Member), David Hartley-Margolin (Former National Vice President, Small Locals), Nancy Flanagan (Vice President), Maureen Aldrin, Dulcie Camp, James Engel, Jason Henning, Nita Froelich, Abner Genece, Chaz Grundy, Catherine McGuire, T. David Rutherford, Joan Valentine DALLAS–FORT WORTH | Brent Anderson (President), Hector Garcia (National Board Member), Suzanne Burkhead HAWAII | Scott Rogers (National Board Member) HOUSTON – AUSTIN | Pamela Weaver (President and National Board Member, Dee Dawson (Former National Board Member), Mykle McCoslin (First Vice President), Norma Jean McVey, Michelle Rendon LOS ANGELES | Clyde Kusatsu (National Vice President, Los Angeles), Dan Navarro (National Vice President, Recording Artists), Ellen Crawford (National and Local Board Member), Jenny O’Hara (National and Local Board Member), Woody Schultz (National and Local Board Member), William Charlton (National and Local Board Member), Bobbie Bates (National Board Member), Hal Eisner (National Board Member), Lisa Vidal (National Board Member), Jason George (National Board Member). Michelle Hurd (National Board Member), Jon Huertas (National Board Member), Stacey Travis (National Board Member), Jasper Randall (National Board Member), Robert Pine (National Board Member), Abigail Spencer (National Board Member), Catherine Dent (Local Board Member), Dawnn Lewis (Local Board Member), Elaine Loh (Local Board Member), Elizabeth McLaughlin (Local Board Member), Fletcher Sheridan (Local Board Member), Kate Flannery (Local Board Member), Kate Linder (Local Board Member), Katie Von Till (Local Board Member), Lee Purcell (Local Board Member), Parvesh Cheena (Local Board Member), Patrick Fabian (Local Board Member), Rob Archer (Local Board Member), Spencer Garrett (Local Board Member), Tom Choi (Local Board Member), Vivicca Whitsett (Local Board Member), Ben Whitehair (Local Board Member) MIAMI | John McKarthy (President), Nancy Duerr (National Board Member), Steve Gladstone (Former President), Dave Corey (Former National Board Member) MICHIGAN | Eric Wydra (President), Peter Tocco (National Board Member), Jo-Jo Shutty-MacGregor (1st Vice President), Phil Elam (2nd Vice President), Shane Carson (Secretary) MISSOURI VALLEY | Tom Murray (President), Rodger Brand (National Board Member) NASHVILLE | Mike Montgomery (President) , Evans Donnell NEVADA | Steve Dressler (National Board Member) NEW ENGLAND | Michele Proude (President), Bill Mootos (National Board Member), Tom Kemp (VP Actor/Performers), Vic Ramos (VP Broadcasters), Ellen Colton (Secretary), Doug Bowen-Flynn, Frank Cacciola, Doug Cope, Russ Gannon, Paul Horn, Andrea Lyman, Peter McSwiggin, Karen Scalia, Rod Fritz NEW MEXICO | Marc Comstock (President), Mel MacKaron – National Board Member, William Sterchi (Former SAG Council President), Michael L. Miller (2nd Vice President), Allan K. Edgar, Mary Woods NEW ORLEANS | Charles Ferrara (National Board Member) NEW YORK | Rebecca Damon (Executive Vice President and NY President), Ezra Knight (Vice President), Maureen Donnelly (Vice President), Jim Kerr (Vice President), Liz Zazzi (Vice President), Manny Alfaro, Dave Bachman, Marc Baron, Evan Bass, Thomas Bellezza, Nitasha Bhambree, Sandra M. Bloom, David Bodenschatz, Avis Boone, Jacqueline (Jacqui) Bradley, Christine Bruno, Ray DeForest, Gene DeFrancis, Wayne Duvall, Venida Evans, Nick Fondulis, Janette Gautier, Andrew Gelles, Traci Godfrey, Stuart Green, Ed Heavey, Cort Hessler, Anita Hollander, Vivienne Jurado, Sandra Karas, Kathy Keane, Verania Kenton, Peter Kilcommons, Gerald Kline, Jeff Knapp, Ilene Kristen, Elaine LeGaro, Tom Ligon, Cathy Lilly, Doug Lory, James Lurie, Adrian Martinez, Tommy McInnis, Robert McKay, Joseph Melendez, S.P. Monahan, Mary Elaine Monti, Jack Mulcahy, Christine Nagy, Janice Pendarvis, Jay Potter, Linda Powell, Cheri Preston, Marisa Redanty, Buzz Roddy, John Rothman, Nick Sakai, Kevin Scullin, Sarah Seeds, leslie Shreve, Alice Spivak, Jeff Spurgeon, Nancy Ellen Sutherland, Jamal Story, Alex Tavis, Joan Valentina, Tania Villanueva, Rick Zahn OHIO–PITTSBURGH | Chris Lacey (National Board Member), Mark Roberts PHILADELPHIA | Mike Kraycik (VP Actors/Performers), John Mitchel (National Board Member), Tom McNutt (Former President), Helen McNutt (Former National Board Member) PORTLAND | Mary MacDonald-Lewis (National Board Member), Robert Cohn, Harold Phillips, Chrisse Roccaro, Michelle Damis, Margaret McOmie SAN DIEGO | Martin Alvillar (President), Don Ahles (National Board Member) SAN FRANCISCO–NORTHERN CALIFORNIA | Kathryn Howell (President and National Board Member), Bob Butler (National Board Member), Edward Vasgersian (VP Performers), Mike Pechner (VP Broadcasters), Micci Toliver (Recording Secretary), Lea Gulino, Charlie Holliday, Rika Luna, Joe Paulino SEATTLE | Rik Deskin (President), Abby Dylan (National Board Member), Maggie Stenson, Rachel Glass, April Raine TWIN CITIES | Peter Moore (President), Randal Berger (National Board Member), Bob Davis (1st Vice President) WASHINGTON–MID ATLANTIC | Lance Lewman (President), Susan Snyder (National Board Member), Joe Krebs (National Board Member and Chair, Broadcast Steering Committee), Julie Wright (Vice President), Kathryn Klvana (Secretary-Treasurer), Jack Speer, John Henrehan (Former Vice President, Broadcaster), Melissa Leebaert, Elizabeth Noone, Sheldon Smith, Ellie K. Wang. -- (Titles are used for identification purposes only) --
No, they are not.
Both are considered in the green zone with a long term plan to be fully funded.(source)
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