Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1544866
18 SAG-AFTR A | Spring 2026 | sagaftra.org A Letter From the National Executive Director Dear Member, A s of press time, SAG-AFTRA is heading back to the bargaining table with the studios and streamers in an effort to make progress before the employers begin scheduled negotiations with the DGA starting on May 11. SAG-AFTRA's current contract with the AMPTP expires on June 30. If a tentative agreement is not reached in May, we will have additional bargaining time in June. I'd like to extend my deepest appreciation to the members of the TV/Theatrical/Streaming Negotiating Committee, and especially the National Chair of the committee, President Sean Astin, for the service, sacrifice and dedication they've shown throughout the long hours that go into achieving an agreement for their colleagues. As a reminder, our media blackout remains in effect. All updates regarding bargaining will come directly from the union. Anything you see about negotiations that is not posted on official SAG-AFTRA channels should not be relied on. Outside of TV/Theatrical bargaining, SAG-AFTRA's work continues. During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., President Astin, Executive Vice President Linda Powell and Secretary-Treasurer Michelle Hurd met with members of Congress to advocate for SAG-AFTRA-supported legislation ranging from the NO FAKES Act to the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) and federal film production tax incentives. During that trip, I delivered a presentation at the AFL-CIO Workers First AI Summit, where I shared technical background on deepfakes and digital replicas. I also addressed what the labor movement can do to help prevent and curtail abusive use of deepfakes and digital replicas. Earlier in the year, I shared our union's AI efforts and advocated for protective AI policy at CES in Las Vegas and at the World Economic Forum in Davos. The more we understand this technology, the better equipped we are to protect human creativity, expertise and artistry. On that note, I'm grateful to Secretary-Treasurer Hurd for her recent trip to Sacramento, where she delivered testimony in support of SB 1050, a bill that would mandate disclaimers when synthetics are used in advertisements. A similar bill was recently signed into law by Gov. Kathy Hochul at SAG-AFTRA's New York office. Consumers deserve to be protected from deceptive synthetics, and our union will continue to defend the value of real human expertise and artistry in all media and creative work. A huge congratulations to the intimacy coordinators covered by SAG-AFTRA's first agreement with the studios and streamers, which went into effect on Feb. 22. This first contract recognizes their professionalism, expertise and the indispensable role they play in creating respectful and safe working environments. Speaking of contracts, I encourage all members to visit the recently updated Contracts Toolkit at sagaftra.org/contractstoolkit. There, you'll get access to contract bulletins and educational materials that cut through the legal jargon with essential contract knowledge delivered in easy-to-understand language. This is a great online resource that provides the answers and information you're looking for without needing to make a phone call or send an email. Want to know how you can stay up to date on everything happening with SAG-AFTRA, both locally and nationally? Our Local Facebook pages have become increasingly popular. And every other week, we publish a new Take 5 video on YouTube, TikTok and Instagram that offers valuable tips for members on topics ranging from self-taping to work-specific agreements. Please be sure to log into your member profile to fill out your confidential SAG-AFTRA Demographic Profile and be part of the change you want to see. Lastly, always check your emails for important information and updates from your union. Thank you, SAG-AFTRA members, for your continued commitment to your union community. In unity, Duncan Crabtree-Ireland D U N C A N C R A B T R E E - I R E L A N D "The more we understand this technology, the better equipped we are to protect human creativity, expertise and artistry."