Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1546062
60 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2026 | sagaftra.org I n 1935, Screen Actors Guild received its first charter from Associated Actors and Artistes of America, the entertainment and artist-focused organization affiliated with the American Federation of Labor — the largest and most influential union federation of the time. Seventy-seven years later, in August 2012, the newly merged SAG-AFTRA directly affiliated with the AFL-CIO, continuing both organizations' commitments to empowering workers. History was made once again at the 30th AFL-CIO Constitutional Convention held June 7–10 in Minneapolis, as SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin was elected vice president of the AFL-CIO Executive Council. Astin was part of the leadership slate put forward by AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler and Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, who were both reelected to lead the federation. Under Shuler and Redmond's leadership, the AFL-CIO has expanded to 65 affiliated unions representing nearly 15 million working people nationwide. In his "Unions Change Lives" keynote speech to the nearly 1,000 convention delegates, Astin celebrated that partnership and those who dedicate themselves to union service, saying, "The AFL-CIO, for me, is a towering beacon of labor power, worker muscle. I've marveled at its righteousness and deep influence in America." Concluding his remarks, he addressed the importance of taking action. "I love my country. I love my freedom of speech. I love my freedom to assemble. Rights that every one of our organizations counts on for our survival; rights paid with blood. If we don't defend those rights together now, we will lose them." SAG-AFTRA delegates spoke in support of resolutions addressing the rights of a free press, global AI standards and the NO FAKES Act. The union also proposed Resolution 28, calling on the AFL-CIO to support federal legislation creating tax incentives for domestic film and television production to help bring runaway production and good union jobs back to the United States. The resolution drew support and floor speeches from a coalition of entertainment and media union leaders, including International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees President Matthew D. Loeb, Writers Guild of America East Secretary-Treasurer Sasha Stewart and AFM Local 99 Secretary- Treasurer Mont Chris Hubbard. Delegates passed the resolution unanimously. Artifact-tastic Advocacy Between sessions, delegates and guests experienced the Solidarity Commons exhibit hall, where affiliate union booths offered a range of engagement THE AFL-CIO CONNECTION JAY MALLIN/ AFL-CIO Click to watch President Astin's keynote address. SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin Elected to AFL-CIO Executive Council; Union Leads Discussion on AI Guardrails and Secures Unanimous Passage of Resolutions Supporting Federal Production Incentives SAG-AFTRA President Sean Astin delivers keynote remarks to delegates at the 30th AFL-CIO Convention in Minneapolis on June 8. AFL-CIO continues on page 64