Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1186820
will be all about expanding our dialogue with the studios and employers. Also, emphasizing inclusion on all levels is a priority so that members, including those with disabilities, people of color, women — all the underrepresented groups — have the opportunity to work. Additionally, we want to position the union on the cutting edge of tech. I really want to focus on the developing technologies that will impact our members. I want more partnerships with leaders in the tech industry, because I think we can work in tandem to arrive at solutions that keep our members working. If we are part of the conversation, we will not become extinct. What are the union's greatest challenges? Technology. How do we protect our members and ensure they aren't being robbed of their identities without being properly compensated when there are things like holographic images used in concerts or technology that can duplicate our voices or images? How do we protect their careers? The rapid pace of change has the potential to threaten us, and that's why it's so important to acknowledge its existence and then find ways to work with it. If we ignore it or deny its value, we do so at our own risk. We also need to keep our eye on legislative and policy issues that are important to our members. Today's laws have not kept up with the many technological changes, so we need to be proactive in ensuring members have recourse against the new ways in which their work and reputations can be threatened. How has the successful resolution of the BBH strike positioned the union? The BBH strike occurred before and during our Commercials Contracts negotiations. That we were able to be successful on both fronts really speaks to the involvement of the membership. We saw that same spirit in the Commercials Contracts negotiations. I was impressed with the commitment of members from all over the country who were willing to look at the hard truth about how our work has changed in the commercials industry and what that means for our contracts. We need to keep the energy, candor and unity we saw with the BBH strike and the Commercials negotiations so we can continue building on our successes. From fighting sexual harassment to #AdsGoUnion, SAG-AFTRA has a lot of major initiatives. What can members do to help advance those goals? Get involved. Join a committee. Read our magazine, look at social media, watch our videos, listen to our podcast; we are reaching out in a million different ways. And share it with fellow members. Our true successes come when we are working together. And for that to happen, people need to be informed. Top, Carteris at the 24th Annual SAG Awards. Above, Carteris addresses participants in The Hollywood Reporter's Women in Entertainment Mentorship Program. Below, Carteris, center, with BH90210 castmates Jennie Garth and Tori Spelling in the episode "Long Wait." SHANE HARVEY/FOX KEVIN WINTER-GETTY IMAGES FOR SAG-AFTRA 60 SAG-AFTRA | Fall 2019 | sagaftra.org