SAG-AFTRA

Spring 2021

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10 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2021 | sagaftra.org Letter from the Secretary-Treasurer These wins remind us of our collective power, and your continued loyalty makes this work possible. Prior to the pandemic, approximately 96.5% of members paid dues on time. When COVID-19 hit, we expected that number to plummet — but instead, it dipped slightly to 88%. We know members made sacrifices to pay their dues, and we are profoundly grateful that as a whole, our union members recognized the important work of SAG-AFTRA during this historically difficult time. Additionally, people are starting to have more confi- dence that the industry is rebounding, and we are seeing an exciting increase in new performers joining the union. Before March 2020, about 550 people joined SAG-AFTRA per month. That number fell to 150 when the pandemic struck, but has since come back to near-normal numbers. There is cause for optimism, but we're not out of the woods yet. The impacts of the pandemic will affect us in the months and years to come, so we must remain prudent. Preparing for the future also means using this time to continue innovating and bringing every aspect of our union into the 21st century. We've launched a number of important online tools that make it easier to do business with the union. For Dear Fellow Union Member, S pring has arrived and with it some optimism and hope. A year into the pandemic, we are finally beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Over the past year, we have had to make some hard but responsible decisions. That wise stewardship of our union and its assets has put us on a path to succeed long after this crisis is over. Throughout it all, the union has maintained its promise to protect your livelihoods and carefully use union resources. Your dues allow SAG-AFTRA to not only do the crucial, immediate work of negotiating and enforcing contracts, organizing and ensuring timely residuals payments, but also to fight important legislative battles to protect you even when you're not working on set. SAG-AFTRA's advocacy has helped secure urgent relief, including the COBRA health insurance discount extension; support for freelancers and gig-economy workers through the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and Mixed Earner Unemployment Compensation; and the creation of the CARES Act Artist Relief Fund, a national fund that supports artists facing dire financial emergencies. example, new members can now sign up through our online joining portal, members can file and track commercials claims online, production and casting can more easily clear cast members through our Cast Clearance portal, and our technology teams are developing a producers portal that will allow projects to be set up and signed online. As production continues to ramp up and our members get back to work safely, we are seeing that our union's solidarity is our strength. It's because we had each other's backs that we are coming out of this crisis on solid ground. It was a team effort, and I want to take a moment to shine a light on our SAG-AFTRA staff, including the finance team and the business units, who over the past year have dedicated nights, weekends and long days to work tirelessly on our behalf. I am incredibly grateful to them. In health and solidarity, Camryn Manheim C A M R Y N M A N H E I M "As production continues to ramp up and our members get back to work safely, we are seeing that our union's solidarity is our strength." 80 70 70 100 10.2 7.4 7.4 100 100 100 100 100 60 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 100 100 100 100 70 70 30 30 100 100 60 70 70 40 70 70 30 30 100 40 100 40 40 100 10 40 40 20 70 70 3.1 2.2 2.2 70 40 40 75 66 66 50 40 40 25 19 19 B 0 0 0 0 100 70 30 100 10 25 50 75 90 100 100 60 100 70 30 100 60 40 70 40 70 30 100 40 40 100 40 100 40 70 40 70 40 40 3 40 70 40 70 40 40 100 60 A 3% ISO 12647-7 Digital Control Strip 2009

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