Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/1251534
41 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2020 | sagaftra.org safety practices and social distancing in the workplace and at home. Additional messages would follow with safety resources and, by March 9, SAG-AFTRA announced that to further protect members and staff from exposure, it was implementing organization-wide crowd reduction measures, including postponement or cancellation of in-person meetings. SAG-AFTRA staff worked with employers to assure precautions were being implemented on set, the newsroom, recording studio and anywhere our members work. Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson announced on March 11 they had been diagnosed with COVID-19, underscoring the fact that anyone could be infected. The next day, NBCUniversal announced out of caution that it was suspending production on the majority of its television series, including Chicago Fire, Chicago P.D, Chicago Med, Law & Order: SVU and New Amsterdam. On March 13, SAG-AFTRA launched an online hub, sagaftra.org/covid-19, as a national and local resource for information about the novel coronavirus, which the World Health Organization had deemed a pandemic two days earlier. Additionally, the union developed preliminary safety guidelines for multiple areas of work, including recording artists, performers, broadcasters and voiceover artists, both for members and employers during this fast-moving crisis. The hub began listing all productions that were temporarily halted, instructing members to contact production before showing up for work. WORKING ON YOUR BEHALF Assessing the likely trajectory of the pandemic, SAG-AFTRA's Business Continuity Team took decisive action in mid-March. SAG-AFTRA's offices were closed to the public to minimize exposure. This was soon followed by the implementation of remote work for staff. Residuals processing and other essential services continue on site at SAG-AFTRA Plaza to reduce disruption to member service. Workspaces and schedules shifted to conform with social distancing and safety precautions. As the situation worsened, however, virtually all production would come to a standstill. SAG-AFTRA's contracts staff continue to work tirelessly with performer reps and attorneys to ensure compliance with the provisions of "force majeure" production stoppages. "Force majeure is a SAG-AFTRA staff continues to work to ensure members receive residuals. contract clause that allows production to stop due to unforeseen events." On March 20, President Gabrielle Carteris addressed members in a video: "We are in this together. During this time of significant economic impact, we must do everything we can to stop the spread of COVID-19 and help those in greatest need." Responding to the severity of the situation, on March 24, the union's National Board voted to acknowledge and reaffirm the Executive Committee's constitutional authority to act as necessary to address matters between meetings of the National Board. In light of these extraordinary circumstances, the National Board authorized the Executive Committee to establish a program for relief from dues, late payment charges and other related matters. The board also ratified the president's and national executive director's decision to postpone the April in-person National Board meeting in Los Angeles. The President's Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement held a virtual town hall on March 30 for hundreds of elected leaders from across the country to keep them updated on the union's efforts during this time. It followed up with a livestream presentation for all members on April 7, where more than 4,100 people tuned in at one time to learn about applying for unemployment assistance and the benefits of the CARES Act. The following week, SAG-AFTRA co-sponsored a webinar featuring a representative from the California Employment Development Department to review state unemployment assistance for those working in the entertainment industry. As we move into the third month of the pandemic, the union continues to use every channel available to keep members informed of the latest developments. Resources and comprehensive FAQs are regularly added to the union's COVID-19 hub. Videos, podcasts and messages from CLICK HERE for the latest COVID-19 updates