Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1433871
30 SAG-AFTRA | Fall/Winter 2021 | sagaftra.org For Members Rebecca Damon Named Top N.Y. Labor Leader F ormer SAG-AFTRA Executive Vice President Rebecca Damon has made the City & State New York City Labor Power 100 list for the third year in a row for her noteworthy contributions to advancing the interests of union members and the labor movement as a whole. "I am deeply humbled by the inclusion in the New York City Labor Power 100. It is remarkably gratifying to be included in this list alongside all those who also know that every labor leader's ability to effect change comes, ultimately, from the collective power and solidarity of our union members," Damon said. Damon was lauded for her leadership during the COVID pandemic and her crucial role in getting New York Local members back to work safely. Damon also served as the New York Local president for four years, in addition to her duties as the union's No. 2 national officer. The list was compiled by City & State, a New York-based media organization dedicated to covering New York's local and state politics and policy. The Power 100 are outstanding and influential New York labor leaders and advocates who fight for workers' rights, fair wages and improved working conditions. Honorees were recognized at a virtual event on Sept. 9, at which Damon was one of the featured speakers. In October, Damon stepped down from her many roles in member leadership to join the staff of SAG-AFTRA as executive director of the New York Local and executive director, labor policy and international affairs. Self-Taping on the Agenda W ith the demand for self-taping on the rise since the start of the pandemic, some actors have found themselves in unfamiliar territory. Members are concerned about the technical aspects, cost, time and sometimes unreasonable turnaround times, and excessive requests. At SAG-AFTRA's national convention, delegates voted up about half a dozen resolutions regarding self-taping, and at its December meeting, the National Board will be referring those resolutions to the appropriate committees for further action. Your member leaders hear your concern, and the topic will be one of much discussion — including examining a possible survey to assess the state of commercial and theatrical self-taping, and developing procedures and best practices. Thank you to those who submitted the resolutions and to those who have spoken so passionately on the issue. You can expect to hear more in the coming months. SAG-AFTRA Backs Bipartisan Tax Parity Act S AG-AFTRA applauds the introduction of the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act, which will modernize the Qualified Performing Artist tax credit to ensure creative professionals are not unfairly penalized by an outdated provision in the tax code. The legislation was introduced with bipartisan leadership in the U.S. Senate by Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn. The bill was previously introduced in the House by Reps. Judy Chu, D-Calif., and Vern Buchanan, R-Fla. "I want to thank Sen. Mark Warner and Sen. Bill Hagerty for drafting and introducing this important legislation. They are great champions of the creative professionals who keep our industry successful," said SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher. "We have been fighting for this legislation because it will allow working-class entertainment and media professionals legitimate deductions so that they can retain more of their hard-earned money during these most challenging times." The bill has been supported by 19 organizations representing creative professionals from across the industry, including those who work in live theater, at trade shows and exhibitions, and at concerts, as well as the equipment and construction shops that support them. Since the legislation was first introduced in June 2019, SAG-AFTRA has held dozens of meetings with congressional staff and submitted testimony to the House Ways and Means Committee regarding the need for tax fairness for these workers. Coming on the heels of the pandemic that halted all production and devastated so many lives, the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act will provide well-earned relief to professionals who need it most. The Qualified Performing Artist tax credit was signed into law as part of tax reform in 1986 and has since remained unchanged in the tax code. The bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act updates the thresholds of the QPA, which has been capped at an adjusted gross income of $16,000 since enactment 35 years ago. The new bill would update the deduction to $100,000 for single filers and $200,000 for married artists filing jointly. Rebecca Damon