Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/377629
6 SAG-AFTRA | Summer 2014 | SAGAFTRA.org A Letter from the Executive Vice President G A B R I E L L E C A R T E R I S "You have a role to play in this process — a union is only as strong as its members." Dear Member, I mmediately following our merger — pursuant to all of the extraordinary efforts made by members and staff across the country and after we celebrated our great success — I reminded members that the work had just begun. It was true then and in many ways it is equally true now. We have accomplished much as one union: We successfully negotiated and ratified both the Commercials and TV/Theatrical contracts while we were working on the Network Television Code wages and working conditions process, as well as the Sound Recordings Code, the Animation agreement, the Uptown agreement and a plethora of broadcast contracts. Yes, negotiating our contracts is a crucial part of our union's work; they are the bread and butter for our members, but engaging all performers and activating our membership is just as crucial. We have many members who are doing incredible work to help keep SAG-AFTRA growing and strong, but I know many others who feel that because we have merged, our work is done. That's simply wrong. There is more to do and I encourage and invite all of you to commit to a deeper partnership with the union. Organizing is an essential aspect of our work and our future. But we must also activate our entire membership and educate pre-members who are on the cusp of joining. We must bring greater awareness of who we are to all performers and why we're here. If you're like me, you want your union to provide representation for all people who entertain and perform. Why? Because it is only through density, education and involvement that we will continue to maintain the strong wages and safe working conditions that our members enjoy when working under our contracts. SAG-AFTRA does many things, but among the most important is providing a solid foundation — the guaranteed minimum compensation and working conditions — upon which our members can build. We need to discuss the state of the industry and share the changes we are seeing so that we can develop wise strategies and implement fully researched initiatives that will help us strengthen our union and ensure a bright future for our members and for those who will follow us. An example of this work is our recent TV/Theatrical negotiations. We recognized that high-budget streaming video-on- demand projects like Orange is the New Black and House of Cards, though a small percentage of our work now, will in the future be a significant part of our work. Ensuring full compensation upfront helps ensure that this area will deliver equitable compensation as it grows. Hard-fought patterns were set in previous negotiations with our sister guilds, and we improved upon those benchmarks. Our job is to build upon the contract provisions to always ensure gains that accrue to the members. We do this by being informed and prepared, but also by being strong at the table. We have given staff the room to narrow its focus and concentrate on looking at what we need in terms of service, execution and analysis as we move forward. Now, the baton is passed to you. You have a role to play in this process — a union is only as strong as its members. We rely on you to let us know when you see something new, whether it is a change in the contract or an add-on that you haven't seen before. Work with your local and be a part of the conversation, read your union communications so that you know what is taking place nationally and locally, and decide how you can be part of the next phase of SAG-AFTRA's growth. Unity and solidarity are more than simply words. At the California Labor Federation convention in July, I was able to spend time with our allies from sister unions and guilds across the state. We share many of the same goals and partnering with the rest of the labor movement ensures that we stand united and have friends at our back when we need them. Solidarity with our entertainment industry sister guilds and with the broader landscape of labor makes us stronger. On a final note, please join me in honoring the lives and memories of David Metz and Lamont Correll, both union staff members whose contributions to our organization went beyond mere jobs. Their dedicated and fine work is part of the legacy we are all building — whether as staff or members — to make this union stronger and better. They remind us that what we do makes a difference. David and Lamont will be missed but they will not be forgotten. In unity, Gabrielle Carteris