Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/72909
ROBERTA REARDON "We have taken the first big step — establishing us as one. Now we must get to work building on our success." Dear Fellow SAG-AFTRA Member, two unions have merged, uniting our members from coast to coast into a strong, national organization. I am honored to serve you as co-president and to work side by side with Ken Howard and the entire national officer corps. The creation of our new union was T Aſter nearly eight decades, our definitely a team effort. Not only did the official committee members work long and hard on your behalf, but so did you. Together we have secured a victory, not just for the current members of SAG- AFTRA, but for the generations who will follow us. Voting YES for one union announced to the world that we believe in the value of collective strength. There IS power in a union. And while it is tempting to think we've made it, I urge us to think of this as the beginning of our new chapter. We have taken the first big step — establishing us as one. Now we must get to work building on our success. In SAG-AFTRA Locals throughout the country, our new union represents a vibrant and more diverse membership of actors, broadcast journalists, recording artists, dancers, stunt performers, announcers, DJs, news writers and editors, program hosts, puppeteers and voiceover artists. In all areas of work, the strength and solidarity of our members is our greatest asset. Because of you, SAG- AFTRA rests on a rock-solid foundation that allows us to negotiate with authority, thoughtfully and wisely administer the contracts, and operate a sound and he cover of this magazine says it all. We are one. What an incredible journey this has been. efficient institution. And we have our first victory (see page 24). SAG-AFTRA has a first-of-its-kind industrywide agreement in music videos. Begun under AFTRA with dancers in L.A., New York and Miami organizing together to demand respect and a contract that works for them, our campaign forcefully advanced post-merger with the approval of a Do Not Work order unanimously endorsed by our National Board, and a deal was struck following late night hours at the bargaining table with a dedicated member committee and staff. It's a new day for our members who work in that genre and a great use of our power and leverage! But we have work ahead of us. Inte- grating two large organizations with their individual operations, contracts and staff in a way that encourages innovative thinking is an epic undertaking. The important thing is to stay focused on the mission: Build and maintain a strong national union that serves all members in every Local and all categories of work and stands up for the important ideals of unity, solidarity and economic fairness. AFTRA and SAG members cast ballots for merger, resulting in the historic founding of SAG-AFTRA. That's real solidarity. We now know we can come together in pursuit of a common goal and achieve that goal. So let us all set our sights on our collective future. Every member is an important piece of how we move forward. I urge each and every one of you to stay active. Read the magazine, email and Local communications from SAG-AFTRA and stay involved with your union. Working together we can strengthen our Locals, our union and our industry in ways that result in more opportunity and improved protections. Ken and I have met and talked with Earlier this year, tens of thousands of thousands of you over the last several years. It is only because of your support and your efforts that we were able to make this merger happen. I hope we can count on you to continue working with us to realize the full potential of what SAG- AFTRA can become — an organization empowered by its membership and defining the next century of entertainment and media. Here's to each of us — and all of us Focus on organizing — especially in the so-called "right-to-work" states — to increase our market share and union density across the breadth of the entertainment and media industries. Manage evolving technologies in the production, distribution, promotion and protection of our work and the changing business models that represent challenges and opportunities for all members. together! In unity, Roberta Reardon SAGAFTRA.org | Summer 2012 | SAG-AFTRA 7