The Chicago Activator - July 28, 2014

Official E-Newsletter of the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local

July 28, 2014

IN THIS ISSUE TV/Theatrical Contracts Meeting Faster Residuals Processing Union-Made Beers Freelance Tidbit Mother Jones Monument

TV/Theatrical Contracts Informational Webinar Meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 5, 2014 Details below.

TV/Theatrical Contracts Informational Webinar Meeting 6 p.m. Aug. 5, 2014 On July 12, your SAG-AFTRA National Board overwhelmingly approved and recommended a yes vote for the tentative agreement reached with the AMPTP. Eligible SAG-AFTRA members will now vote on the proposed successor agreements covering motion pictures, scripted primetime dramatic television and new media production. The tentative deal unifies SAG and AFTRA television contracts under a new 2014 SAG-AFTRA Television Agreement. In addition, the first industrywide agreement for performers in basic cable production is now incorporated into the new Television Agreement.

Members who are eligible to vote were mailed a postcard on July 23 with ballot instructions explaining how to vote electronically or how to request a paper ballot. A preview of the referendum booklet is available online.

You are invited to an informational webinar meeting on the proposed TV/Theatrical Contracts and the strong pay increases and solid workplace protections for the members who work under it. This webinar will provide members the opportunity to hear a presentation, followed by a group discussion. Dinner will be served.

When: 6 - 9 p.m.Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2014 Where: 1 E. Erie, Suite 650, Chicago, IL Please RSVP to Kathy Byrne at (312) 867-5508 or kathy.byrne@sagaftra.org.

We urge you to attend this important informational meeting. This meeting is only open to paid-up SAG-AFTRA members in good standing, no guests are allowed. Parents/guardians of performers under 18 years old are welcome. Please bring your membership card for admittance paid thru Oct. 31, 2014.

If you are unable to attend and have questions regarding the tentative agreement, please email contracts2014@sagaftra.org or call (800) 518-6623.

Residuals Processing Time Reduced A key initiative of SAG-AFTRA is to get you money as soon as possible. In an effort to better serve the membership, staff has worked diligently to reduce the wait time for residual checks. These residual checks can often serve as a vital lifeline of income for members. Through an amazing amount of effort from staff, directed by National Executive Director David White and headed by Chief Information Officer Daniel Inukai and his staff, residuals processing time is now less than 30 days.

Residuals Tracker Keeps You Informed Find out the status of your residuals here. The Residuals Tracker can instantly show you details of residuals payments for a particular project. You can see residuals that have been processed and have a mail date by selecting the option "Mailed." View pending residuals by selecting the option "In Processing."

How Well Do You Know Your Union-Made Beers?

When you're reaching for a beer this summer, why not choose union-made? Take the quiz at UnionPlus.org and test your knowledge of union-made offerings.

You can also text BEER to 22555 to receive the list on your mobile device, too.

Or if you prefer union-made root beer, chose Barq's, Blumers or Old Philadelphia.

Freelance Tidbit Moving? Log on it SAGAFTRA.org, click on "Member Services." Click on "My Information" via the drop-down menu. Then click "Edit Address," and then update your information and save changes.

While you're there, double check the other information: phone, email, etc. If your membership records are not up to date, delivery of all checks and notifications mailed from SAG-AFTRA can be delayed.

Certain functions of www.SAGAFTRA.org experience technical issues on Safari or Google Chrome. We recommend using Firefox or Internet Explorer.

Please do not use any punctuation (such as periods, dashes or commas) or symbols (such as "#", "&" or "*") in your address. Doing so will give a "USPS format" error.

If you need any help with this process, please call the Membership Department at the SAG-AFTRA Chicago Local at (312) 573-8081 ext. 541.

Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael Carrigan and State Sen. Andy Manar Kick-off Restoration Efforts for Mother Jones Monument In June, State Sen. Andy Manar and Illinois AFL-CIO President Michael T. Carrigan kicked off the effort to preserve the monument and final resting place of Mother Jones in the Union Miner Cemetery in Mt. Olive, Illinois.

The historic landmark celebrates the courage of a woman who fought most of her life for the rights of others and offers a glimpse into the hardships of a coal miner and the dangerous fight unions waged in the late 1800s and early 1900s. The Union Miners' Cemetery Perpetual Care Association formed a partnership with the Illinois AFL-CIO, Manar (whose district is where the monument is located), Illinois Labor History Society, United Mine Workers of America and the Mother Jones Foundation to raise the funds for the project.

The monument restoration is being done in conjunction with the soon-to-be-erected Mother Jones Museum. Both are scheduled to be unveiled in June 2015, inspiring thousands of guests each month to visit the small community.

"Mother Jones was known as 'the most dangerous woman in America,' but workers recognize her as the most courageous, and her memory must be preserved," Carrigan said.

For more information about the restoration of the monument, you can follow the progress on the Mother Jones Monument page on Facebook.

This project is administered by entities independent of SAG-AFTRA.

From left, Christian Stolte -- cast as Mouch on Chicago Fire by PR Casting -- with Mickie Paskal and Jennifer Rudnicke at the June 30 Conversation event at the KMRC. All three answered questions, shared advice and a tale or two.

In response to members' requests to stay informed, The Activator may include notice of rallies, pickets and other actions by unions and the labor movement that have not been sanctioned by the National or Chicago Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA. This information is provided as a convenience.

The information contained herein regarding workshops, vendors, special offers and the like is provided for informational purposes and is not intended to imply endorsement by SAG-AFTRA of them or the information, material, products or services provided. SAG-AFTRA makes no warranties or representations regarding the use of the material or the quality of the services or service providers.

SAG-AFTRA Chicago: (312) 573-8081 Email: chicago@sagaftra.org Website SAGAFTRA.org/chicago