Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1280987
7-21-94-0 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 T he labor movement has insisted since May that passing the HEROES Act isn't a choice, it's a necessity to avoid another Great Depression. With the future of America hanging in the balance, the stakes could not be higher. At press time, union members are flooding their U.S. representatives with emails and calls to support the HEROES Act as well as legislation to protect mixed earners and expand the COBRA health care subsidy. COBRA Healthcare Subsidy SAG-AFTRA members rely on the partial COBRA healthcare subsidy to maintain coverage under the SAG-AFTRA Health Plan if they did not meet minimum earnings during their designated base earnings period. Unfortunately, COBRA coverage can be prohibitively expensive, as workers must pay both the employer and employee share of a premium. In July, SAG-AFTRA members were asked to contact their elected representatives to support the Worker Health Coverage Protection Act (H.R. 6514). If passed, this legislation would cover the full cost of COBRA premiums up to 15 months for workers who have been laid off, furloughed, or have been subject to reduced hours. This legislation will also support coverage for workers already hurt by a decrease in demand for goods and services, including entertainment workers. Mixed Earners Meanwhile, a broad coalition of arts and entertainment unions and organizations have announced their support for the Mixed Earner Unemployment Assistance Act of 2020, which was introduced in July by U.S. Reps Adam Schiff, D-California, and Judy Chu, D-California, to remedy some of the unintended flaws in previous COVID-19 relief bills. Given the unique nature of the arts and entertainment industry, many creators work project to project and gig to gig, not only in multiple jobs but in various capacities. American workers who have mixed income — income they report as W-2 and 1099 or other self-employment income — are being penalized simply because they earned some income as a W-2 employee. If a mixed-earner makes enough income as a W-2 employee to qualify for any amount of traditional state unemployment benefits, only their W-2 income is considered in determining a weekly base benefit amount. As a result, these taxpayers are losing thousands — sometimes tens of thousands — of dollars in vital benefits that could cover the cost of rent or food during a global pandemic. This new legislation grants the states the option to transition eligible mixed earners from their state unemployment program into the federal Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program, which will ensure equitable benefits for the recipient. Under this legislation, a mixed earner who earned at least $7,250 from self-employment in 2019 could amend their application to qualify for the PUA program where all income will be aggregated to calculate a new weekly base benefit amount based on actual income. In order for these Americans to survive — and recover — after this crisis, they must be able to access the full support intended by Congress. SAG-AFTRA is proud to have brought the idea for this legislation to our national partners and members of Congress. Visit sagaftra.org for updates. SAG-AFTRA Calls on Congress for Assistance ACTION ITEM