FALL 2012
•
VOLUME 1
Commercials Contracts Process Moves to Next Phase
T
he Wages & Working Conditions
coast-to-coast.
contracts was completed on Oct. 19,
when the W&W Plenary Committee meets
(W&W) process of the commercials
setting the stage for what members will be
asking for in the next round of commercials contracts negotiations.
The process, which began in August,
solicited member input as to what should be
the SAG-AFTRA National Board for review in January.
If the National Board agrees with the
with the commercials industry, scheduled to
From the moment you overwhelmingly voted
become the basis for the contracts negotiations
Dear Members,
begin in New York in February. l
A Letter From L.A. Co-President
NED VAUGHN
elected leaders and union staff. You can also expect a report on
to form SAG-AFTRA,
the SAG and AFTRA
your elected leaders
benefits plans. (See
and staff have been
page 8 for more
working to combine the
information, including
best elements of our
meeting time
legacy organizations. I’m
and location.)
pleased to be part of that effort on both the
SAG-AFTRA has 25
local and national levels,
locals and Los Angeles
and I’d like to take this
is the largest. We
opportunity to share some
represent approximately
information of special
80,000 members —
interest to L.A. members.
almost half the union’s national membership.
There is a Los Angeles membership meeting on December 3.
L.A. Local Board meetings are open to
This is a perfect opportunity to meet fellow
observers. We encourage members to come
members, ask any questions you may have,
see their representatives in action. Notices are
and receive detailed information from
GABRIELLE CARTERIS
create a proposals package that it will send to
Angeles, New York and Chicago, webinars
Dear Members,
A Letter From L.A. Co-President
on Nov. 17 and 18, using the material to
proposals and approves the package, it will
were held at more than a dozen locals
NO. 1
The next phase of the process will occur
included in the next round of commercials contracts. In addition to meetings in Los
•
Vaughn continues on page 6
>>
Congratulations on the biggest merger our industry has seen! You did it. You, the members, brought our two great unions together. You have made a statement to the labor movement, other performing unions around the world, and, most importantly — to our employers. By supporting the SAG-AFTRA merger, you have said, “The time is now — we will be divided no more. We will continue to grow and protect performers, while ensuring the best contracts possible.” Merger was the most exciting organizing campaign our unions had ever seen. Members, no matter what their work category, all came together. Not just in agreement, but in action. Our merger campaign included town halls, phone banking, petition signing, education and listening tours, one-to-one communications and house parties. This resulted in a remarkable 85 percent vote in favor and more than 50 percent participation of the membership. But — is merging enough? No, merger is only the first step of our taking hold Carteris continues on page 2 >>