Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/129167
PARTNERING TO HELP SAG-AFTR A MEMBERS IN NEED NEW AUDIOBOOK CONTRACTS SIGNED he hard work of a committed narrator community has led to SAG-AFTRA signing new contracts with more than 20 producers and publishers, resulting in union work across the country. A movement that started in New York spread nationwide to many other cities, including San Francisco, the Twin Cities, Maine and Washington, D.C. Led by staf members Jane Love, Richard Larkin, Steve Sidawi and the recently retired Ralph Braun, SAG-AFTRA was able to negotiate improvements to successor agreements with Audible and others. Also, contracts were signed with Blackstone Audio in Ashland, Ore. and Tantor Media/Studios in Old Saybrook, Conn. he agreement with Tantor is notable because it came ater a narrator-driven work stoppage, supported by both members and nonmembers. his is a wonderful example of organizing and union strength that resulted in a strong irst contract. SAG-AFTRA HOSTS LABOR COMMUNICATORS T he executive council of the International Labor Communications Association held its spring meeting in March at the SAG-AFTRA headquarters in Los Angeles. he organization, founded in 1955, serves as a professional organization for union and labor communicators and hosts the annual ILCA Labor Media Awards, for which the union and its legacy organizations have won multiple honors. SAG-AFTRA Assistant National Executive Director, Communications Pamela Greenwalt and National Assistant Director, Communications Leslie Simmons (both pictured at right) serve as vice presidents on the executive council, the governing body of the organization. Also pictured, let to right, front row: LaToya Egwuekwe (IAMAW); Larry Rubin (Mid-Atlantic Regional Council of Carpenters); ILCA Treasurer Mike Henneberry (UFCW Local 5); ILCA Secretary Kathy Cummings (Washington State Labor Council). Second row: ILCA President David Katzman (TWU Local 100); Ed Finkelstein (Labor Tribune); Todd Conger (UFCW Local 324); Kevin Cheng (Union Privilege); Levi Nayman (RWDSU); Howard Kling (UMN Labor Education Service); and Eric Excell-Bailey (AFT Connecticut). T NATALIALUKIYANOVA/GETTYIMAGES.COM T o better prepare for emerging needs in our entertainment community, he Actors Fund sponsored a strategic planning retreat at New York City's Time Warner Center on March 18. SAG-AFTRA National Co-President Roberta Reardon and National Executive Director David White joined union leaders from Actors' Equity, IATSE, fellow Actors Fund board members and leading experts to discuss issues central to the well-being of all SAG-AFTRA members, namely, how to: •Expandfreeandconidential ActorsFundhumanservices; •Increaseaccesstohealthcare andinsurance; •Offermoreaffordable,supportive andseniorhousing;and •Prepareforthegrowingneeds ofarapidlyexpandingsenior population. In addition to planning for future needs, SAG-AFTRA and he Actors Fund continue to collaborate to respond to immediate needs in our community. Following the devastation of Superstorm Sandy, SAG-AFTRA leadership acted within days to coordinate inancial relief to membership, with support from the SAG Foundation, SAG Motion Picture Players Welfare Fund and the AFTRA Foundation. Relief eforts are administered by he Actors Fund, and $370,000 in emergency inancial assistance has been provided to 287 people in our entertainment community to date. To learn how he Actors Fund helps all SAG-AFTRA members nationally with free social services, emergency inancial assistance, health care and health insurance counseling, employment and training services, and afordable housing, visit actorsfund.org. SAGAFTRA.org | Spring 2013 | SAG-AFTRA 21