Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1114369
60 SAG-AFTRA | Spring 2019 | sagaftra.org On Location SAG-AFTRA leadership and staff observe Black History Month at the L.A. County Federation of Labor's annual MLK Labor celebration in Downtown L.A. on Jan. 12. UNIONS CELEBRATE MLK TOGETHER S AG-AFTRA leaders and staff joined 1,000 community, labor and government leaders to observe Black History Month at the L.A. County Federation of Labor's annual Martin Luther King Jr. labor celebration, held at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on Jan. 12. Attendees enjoyed a heartfelt performance from the First African Methodist Episcopal Church Choir; a spiritual message encouraging social justice service, led by the congregation's senior minister, Edgar J. Boyd; and finally, an uplifting speech by L.A. Federation of Labor President Rusty Hicks, who discussed the strength of unity among labor organizations. The SAG-AFTRA delegation included Secretary- Treasurer and L.A. Local President Jane Austin, National and L.A. Local Board member Ellen Crawford, L.A. Local Board members Dawnn Lewis and Kate Linder, National Women's Committee Co-Chair L. Scott Caldwell and MOVE L.A. Committee member Shea Scullin. MEMBERS SUPPORT SISTER UNION N early 100 SAG-AFTRA members joined SAG-AFTRA leadership and hundreds of United Teachers Los Angeles educators to picket in the rain in front of Hollywood High School on Jan. 16 in support of their strike. There to lead SAG-AFTRA members in standing up for their union sisters and brothers were SAG-AFTRA Secretary-Treasurer and L.A. Local President Jane Austin; SAG-AFTRA Vice President, L.A. Clyde Kusatsu; SAG-AFTRA National and Local Board member Ellen Crawford; SAG-AFTRA L.A. Local Board members Patrick Fabian and Elizabeth McLaughlin; and SAG-AFTRA National Women's Committee Co-Chair L. Scott Caldwell. The delegation greeted the American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and emphasized the necessity of union solidarity. Congratulations to UTLA and LAUSD on reaching an agreement. Los Angeles CASTING CELEBRATION S AG-AFTRA national and local leaders joined top professionals from the industry to celebrate creativity, originality and talent in casting television, film and theater productions at the Casting Society of America's 34th Annual Artios Awards. Held at the Beverly Hilton on Jan. 31, the awards recognize outstanding achievements in casting as chosen by CSA members. SAG-AFTRA leadership shared the appreciation they and their acting peers have for the commitment that casting directors and the CSA have shown to promoting inclusivity and diversity. S AG-AFTRA Secretary- Treasurer and L.A. Local President Jane Austin, along with SAG-AFTRA National Board member and California Labor Federation Vice President Ellen Crawford, attended the California Labor Federation's Governor's Inaugural Reception in Sacramento on Jan. 7. Joining them to congratulate the new California governor, Gavin Newsom, were SAG-AFTRA Los Angeles Local Executive Director Ilyanne Morden Kichaven and SAG-AFTRA Government Affairs & Public Policy Senior Director Kerri Wood Einertson. Austin and Crawford met with California Senate President pro Tempore Toni Atkins, L.A. City Controller Ron Galperin, state Sen. Maria Elena Durazo and state Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. SAG-AFTRA CONGRATULATES NEW GOV SAG-AFTRA members and union leaders picketed in the rain with UTLA teachers. Ellen Crawford and Jane Austin