Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1520149
sagaftra.org | Spring 2024 | SAG-AFTRA 19 National Board Approves 2025 Budget, Celebrates Fast Company Honor T he SAG-AFTRA National Board met April 20 in a scheduled one-day videoconference plenary, voting unanimously to approve the 2025 budget. In addition, the Board also reviewed administrative, finance and governance matters, seating a number of national committees and established a task force on child protection. SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director & Chief Negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland reported that the union was named to Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies list for 2024, making it the second time the union has achieved this prestigious honor. He also reported on recent contract news and provided a comprehensive review of the union's legislative efforts to fill in the gaps in current legal artificial intelligence protections, detailing the status of several pieces of federal and state legislation (see page 46). "We're fighting for every bit of A.I. protections we can win for our members. Hopefully this will result in broad rights and protections for our members and other individuals," he said. SAG-AFTRA Urges Congress to Pass Press Shield Law S AG-AFTRA is backing a bill that would protect the rights of journalists, their sources, and the public's right to know. The Protect Reporters from Exploitative State Spying, or PRESS Act, would ensure journalists may protect their sources by keeping confidential the identity of any person who reveals information to them. The union has long advocated for a federal shield law, and on April 11, SAG-AFTRA Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro testified before the House Judiciary Committee in Washington, D.C. "Government intrusion upon the relationship between a reporter and their sources undermines the foundation of the freedom of the press. A free press is essential to our democracy. To quote Walter Cronkite, a longtime SAG-AFTRA member, 'Freedom of the press is not just important to democracy, it is democracy,'" she said. SAG-AFTRA unreservedly champions the PRESS Act to ensure that reporters' and editors' communications with whistleblowers and other critical sources remain confidential and that freedom of the press is unencumbered as enshrined in the First Amendment of the U. S. Constitution. C - S P A N SAG-AFTRA Chief Broadcast Officer Mary Cavallaro, left, and member Catherine Herridge following their testimony on protecting sources. Union Recognized as 'Most Innovative' For a second year, SAG-AFTRA was named one of the Most Innovative Companies in film and television as part of Fast Company's annual Most Innovative Companies list. The monthly business magazine's Most Innovative Companies feature assesses thousands of businesses and organizations and recognizes those "ideas and technologies that promise to transform the world." WGA West was also recognized this year, and both SAG-AFTRA and WGA West were lauded for "rewriting the rules for actors' and writers' compensation in the age of streaming and A.I." SAG-AFTRA received its first Most Innovative Companies' recognition in 2022. In order to meet the May dues period good-standing eligibility requirement to be nominated for election as a national officer, national board member or local board member, members should ensure that their May 2024 dues bill payment is received by SAG-AFTRA no later than June 10, 2024. If your May dues payment is not received by June 10, 2024, your eligibility to run for office will be affected. Failure to pay dues may also affect your ability to vote, nominate and participate in referenda. For questions regarding eligibility, please contact SAG-AFTRA at (323) 549-6676. Visit sagaftra.org/billing-portal to make a dues payment. Thinking of Running for SAG-AFTRA Office in 2025?