Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/754215
For Members SPANISH-LANGUAGE ORGANIZING CAMPAIGN RAMPS UP S AG-AFTRA's ongoing Spanish- language television organizing effort recently hit a new level. In August, the union premiered a 30-second TV commercial highlighting the double standard that exists between English- language and Spanish-language talent at Telemundo's parent company, NBCUniversal. While Telemundo and Comcast refused to air the Spanish-language spot during the network's live broadcast of Premios Tu Mundo, other Spanish-language stations in Miami, New York and Los Angeles ran the ad. That created a new level of awareness around SAG-AFTRA's goal of ensuring all talent, regardless of their race, ethnicity or language, have fair wages and certain protections. The success of the TV ad was soon followed by another victory. In September, the union announced that for the first time, a nationally broadcast awards show produced for the Telemundo network would be covered by a SAG-AFTRA agreement. The 2016 Latin American Music Awards was televised from the Dolby Theater in Hollywood, California, on Oct. 6 and produced by CMS Productions for Telemundo. "This is an important step," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "As the network increases production and reaches record audiences, we look forward to continued progress." Meanwhile, in October, SAG-AFTRA National Executive Director David White mailed a letter to Telemundo's 20 largest advertisers, alerting them to the issues surrounding the union's ongoing campaign. "The disparity in pay and working conditions based on language is a social justice issue," White wrote. "Based on your company's history, we share a joint concern and want to bring it to your attention." Tweet your support with #sagaftraunidos and find out more at sagaftra.org/unidos.