Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1512402
sagaftra.org | Fall/Winter 2023 | SAG-AFTRA 5 A Letter from the Executive Vice President L I N D A P O W E L L Dear Member, I t was an honor and a privilege to be elected your executive vice president at what turned out to be the shortest convention in our union's history. We'd barely had time to learn to navigate the portal together, to hear from President Drescher and to vote for our national officers when we got word that the AMPTP was finally ready to come back to the table. Convention was put on hold, and the fight for a fair TV/Theatrical/ Streaming contract and end to the strike was put back on the front burner. This has been a stressful time for all of us, but it has been one of the most exciting and hopeful times in my experience as well. The fierce engagement of so many members over the past months, the solidarity, the support for our negotiating committee, and the vibrant debate over the contract speak volumes about the vitality of our union. That spirit of unity hasn't been limited to our members. Over the past six months, we picketed side by side with our WGA siblings, members of various other unions and "civilian" supporters. We have grown closer with laborers in other industries fighting similar battles against wage deflation and technology. We marched with writers, directors, Teamsters, crew, musicians, nurses, flight attendants, auto workers and baristas. Labor is gaining strength in this country and we are a vital part of that movement. Continuing to nurture those relationships old and new will be of benefit to all. There is strength in our numbers. With the strike behind us comes the opportunity to work together to write the next chapter of our story. I have no doubt that the energy from the increased member involvement created by the struggle will shape who we become. The union is its members. All of our voices — those that cheer, those that question, those that challenge, those that support and those that lead — are equally important. At 160,000 strong, we are a force to be reckoned with. SAG-AFTRA, 11 years since the merger, is still fairly young as an institution. We need to remain committed to allowing changes and adjustments to that institution as we grow. To strengthen what works for us and meet the challenge to reckon with what might not. This is especially important as technology swiftly changes the way we work, the way we communicate and the way we live. I am looking forward to working together with President Drescher, Secretary-Treasurer Fisher and leaders around the country to make sure that we have clear, open communication from local to local as well as from union to member, as we navigate our way through those changes. Continuing to nurture a practice of including all categories and constituencies in our conversations will be a priority. Onward together, Linda Powell "Labor is gaining strength in this country and we are a vital part of that movement."