SAG National Board Report, May 2011

“The message from SAG and AFTRA members across the country has been clear — they want this done as soon as possible. If our boards approve the merger plan in January, our members will make the final decision through a referendum vote less than a year from now. I’m proud that we’ve taken a major step today, and I’m extremely grateful for the unanimous support of the SAG National Board. I also want to thank AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon, whose remarkable leadership has been essential in bringing us to this point.” — SAG President Ken Howard

From the Nevada SAG Newsleter, (click here)

National Board ReportBy Art Lynch

Being on the National Board of Screen Actors Guild is an exercise in marketing, legal issues, both the macro and the micro scale of the industry, political manipulations and much more.

The day-to-day work of a National Board member involves phone calls, email, instant messaging, chat lines, PowerPoint presentations and lots of reading and research.

The workload involves statistics, spreadsheets, conferences, debates and relationships with other nationally elected officers and national staff, patience, action when needed, strong listening skills, and persuasive skills. The work requires knowledge of a wide range of areas within the industry, of the differences in geography, and of differences in contract use for the regions and Branches. Board members must focus on anticipating change and keeping local, regional and national members in mind, as well as performers who will become a part of the union and an asset to SAG in the future.

Board meetings are long, sometimes exciting, often tedious and always essential. While the heavy and hateful politics of recent years are behind us, there remain disagreements and differences in priorities in use of contract, amount of work under contract, geography, skill level and membership representation priorities.

The board duties and activities are not just a question of attending meetings. They include keeping the Branch president and councils informed and allowing them the opportunity to represent Nevada on national committees and at national meetings, as those opportunities arise.

The work starts locally and expands to national, with committees, work groups, research, sidebar conversations, email chains, Skype and Go to Meeting sessions, and much more.

One Union

The most vital issue of the past few years, and in the year ahead, is movement toward one union. I am active on several work groups to make sure Nevada and small Branches are a key part of what will be the highest profile and most powerful entertainment union in the world.

If the members approve it “and the creek don’t rise,” we will be one union a year from now, with board consideration in January 2012.

Merger

“The message from SAG and AFTRA members across the country has been clear — they want this done as soon as possible. If our boards approve the merger plan in January, our members will make the final decision through a referendum vote less than a year from now. I’m proud that we’ve taken a major step today, and I’m extremely grateful for the unanimous support of the SAG National Board. I also want to thank AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon, whose remarkable leadership has been essential in bringing us to this point.” — SAG President Ken Howard

On April 30, The Screen Actors Guild National Board of Directors unanimously approved the creation of a Merger Task Force to work with their AFTRA counterparts in developing a formal plan to unite SAG and AFTRA members in one union.

You may be asked to vote on the creation of a new union early next year.

There will be sacrifices to profit from the benefits of a single union. Dues for single-card holders (most of our Nevada membership) may go to finance organizing that will result in greater work opportunities.

Competition between AFTRA and SAG is growing in the television and new media areas, both of which are growing in size and dollars as film (theatrical) remains stable and the future of commercials remains technologically uncertain. With one union, you have a unified effort instead of two competing unions fighting for income and survival.

The growth is in the lower-budget areas of television and film production, areas where a unified performers’ union will be in a position to organize, increasing work for our membership.

“The entertainment industry is undergoing a transformation, and the only way for middle-class performers to remain strong is to have one union fighting for them with a unified strategy. I’m excited to be a part of making that happen.” — SAG 1st Vice President Ned Vaughn. 

Your help and comments are needed

The presidents of both national unions have been on a “listening tour” across the country. They are now requesting feedback and ideas through your elected National Board representatives.

I am interested in your feedback and ideas, questions and observations.

We are seeking your direct feedback to several questions:

1. How are you working differently than five years ago? How has the work changed?

2. What do you want to see in a merged union?

3. How have non-union qualified performers impacted your work opportunities? What can be done to create more union work and minimize use of non-union talent?

4. How have your employers changed from five years ago?

5. What could a merged union do for you? What are your ideas on how to accomplish this?

Please submit your comments to me, trough the SAG office, at Steven.Clinton@sag.org.

This is a time for union pride

The National Legislative Committee’s focus is on battling anti-union movements and legislation in many areas, including right-to-work expansion and attempts to erode union security; working to expand and counter repeals of location-based film incentives; strengthening the protection of our young performers; and protecting members rights wherever and whenever required. Celebrity and rank-and-file members have made a difference in Wisconsin, Michigan and many other states, including advancement of film incentive legislation in the Nevada Legislature.

A Wired World: We need your help

Working actors know that being connected on the Internet is essential to being a performer in this new age of entertainment. Submissions are often by computer, with auditions on Web cameras. Scripts and notices come over email or Facebook. Talent showcases their work on websites and in social media.

The Screen Actors Guild is aware of this, and of the opportunity it provides to save dues money and increase immediacy in all communications. The amount of print materials you receive will continue to decrease, while online increases in importance.

We have a commitment to online rapid communications with members and the community using email broadcasts, Facebook, Twitter and other media and social media.

You can help your fellow actors by encouraging them to have email, to keep their email information up to date with the Guild, to check the SAG website and keep in touch electronically with our SAG office. Nevada Executive Steve Clinton and the Nevada Organizing Committee are ready to help anyone who needs assistance in converting to the Internet age of communication. By offering your help or passing names and emails of members on to the SAG office, you can help ensure that as close as possible to 100 percent of Nevada members are informed and active.

Organizing

SAG is organizing work in all areas, with a focus on new media, low budget and localized work for Nevada and other markets. I am active on several national committees in this area. Much of the work remains confidential for reasons that I am willing to explain one on one, or our executive can address it as an organizing and contract professional.

The Guild is making the most of our dues by doing more for less, using automation, shifting how services are delivered and renewing focus on essentials needed to allow the Guild to improve member services, including contract enforcement, on an ever-tightening budget.

Residuals and other programs are being automated and computerized whenever possible, speeding the process and minimizing human error.

An online signatory process for producers is becoming a reality, making it easier to access information, fill out paperwork and file it with the Guild. Of particular interest is that all filmmakers, at all budget levels, including students, can now have access to SAG talent. Nevada has already picked up ultra-low budget productions using the online application process.

As co-chair of the national New Media and Web Committees, and an active member of the National Communications Committee, I can report on improvements, upgrades and increased use of SAG on the Web. It is there for you to use and to pass on to anyone interested in our industry. We are working on improvements in navigation of the website, growth of recently launched sites to help young performers, and potential upgrades for iActor.

We have overseen improvements in SAG TV and the resources it offers for talent at all levels of the industry. SAG TV and our relationships with the SAG Foundation provide a wealth of information about the industry, contracts and how to navigate life as a professional performer. There are archiveshere and here.

I also encourage you to stay on top of the increased benefits for SAG members though Union Plus (AFL-CIO) and SAG-generated cooperative ventures with businesses. For updates, click here. 

Thank you

Join me in wishing the best and a rapid recovery for President Barbara Grant.

We all should thank Vice President Arttours Weeden, the officers and the Nevada Branch Council for their aggressive work on behalf of the membership. We are, thanks to them, a very active Branch in every way, including organizing, legislative, our conservatory, keeping our executive informed and continuing our more than 35 years as an activist SAG-only Branch of the Screen Actors Guild.

And a special thank you to Nevada Executive Steve Clinton for his work on our legislative initiatives, in organizing work, in protecting our wages and working conditions and membership services.

Have a great summer…hopefully with both work and relaxation.

Art Lynch

nevadaSAG@me.com