Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1114369
sagaftra.org | Spring 2019 | SAG-AFTRA 21 H undreds of labor union leaders and activists attended the 2019 MLK AFL-CIO Civil and Human Rights Conference on Jan. 18–21 in Washington, D.C. The conference honors the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and recognizes contemporary leaders who continue the fight for social and economic justice and gender equality. It featured workshops and keynote addresses as well as an interfaith service, an awards gala and a day of service. SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, who serves as a member of both the Civil & Human Rights and Women's committees of the AFL-CIO Executive Council, was a panelist for a forum titled Women in Leadership: Building Upon the Year of the Woman on Jan. 18. The panel, comprised of notable women labor union leaders, discussed a range of topics, including women in leadership, inclusivity in the movement, and women's policy issues regarding equal pay, paid family leave and sexual harassment. This year's event coincided with another important happening in the nation's capital: the 2019 Women's March on Washington on Jan. 19. Conference-goers not only attended the march with thousands of other activists and protesters, but also joined a #StopTheShutdown rally with furloughed federal employees. S AG-AFTRA returned to the South by Southwest conference from March 8–17 in Austin, Texas. Union representatives from the national commercials, interactive and music departments and the Dallas-Fort Worth Local office made appearances throughout the weeklong conference. Also in attendance were National Board member and SAGindie Committee Chair Abby Dylan, and representatives from SAGindie and the Directors Guild of America. From March 10–12, SAG-AFTRA and SAGindie had a booth set up in the conference exhibition hall. In order to appeal to attendees from the interactive, film and music industries, the booth dedicated each day to highlighting and discussing different contracts: Sunday and Monday focused on the Commercials Contracts, Tuesday centered on video game contracts, and Wednesday featured music agreements. Dylan attended numerous screenings and events, including the annual filmmakers panel. Hosted by SXSW, the National Association of Theatre Owners and Variety, featured panelists included Long Shot actor-producers Seth Rogen and Charlize Theron, as well as Sword of Trust director Lynn Shelton. SAGindie and the DGA ended SXSW with its annual mixer on March 11. More than 125 indie filmmakers and Houston-Austin Local members stopped by to mix and mingle during the two-hour happy hour. As always, SXSW proved to be an exciting week that presented opportunities for the union and its members to interact with marketing and entertainment trendsetters, and help shape and strengthen relationships with these industries for the future. FOCUS ON WOMEN AT HUMAN RIGHTS CONFERENCE National Board member and SAGindie Committee Chair Abby Dylan with actor Kathy Bates at the SXSW world premiere of Netflix's The Highwaymen on March 10. From left, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris, North Carolina APRI Associate Executive Director Denicia Montford Williams, Coalition of Labor Union Women President Elise Bryant, AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and UNITE HERE Local 24 President Nia Winston on Jan. 19. SAG-AFTRA INFORMS AND ENTERTAINS AT SXSW