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Tuesday, September 29, 2020
Actors' Equity Releases Statement in Response to Amy Coney Barrett's Nomination to the Supreme Court
www.broadwayworld.com: Actors' Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has released the following statement in response to President Donald Trump nominating Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.
For the first time in history, I'm really seeing this deep dislike and hatred for Unions coming from the right. I don't get it. For as long as I can remember, I've seen unions as a safe guard, as a place for benefits, and as an organization that proves that any which profession has power in numbers. I think that AEA was right in weighing in because as the article points out, we rely on things like the Affordable Care Act to keep our business sustainable. My thoughts on the nomination aside, this is a clear example of how this nomination has the capability to upend our lives and get rid of unions, which in the theater industry is the only safe guard against improper hours and work conditions, and frankly poverty. I also want to point out that even if the court is supposed to be the most important and sacred branches in government, it is currently compromised by the climate of our nation.
This statement from The Actor’s Equity Association makes it clear how intertwined politics and industries can be, especially in such an unsettling time. I know that it is incredibly difficult to live up to the legacy Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left behind, and while I’m sure that Amy Coney Barrett is hopefully a wonderful person, I do not think she is the correct fit for this seat. There is so much at stake from Health care to the Heroes act, possible even abortion rights and marriage laws, to so much more. All of these issues hit home in the theatre world and I truly hope that there is no confirmation of a new justice until after the election has come to an end. I also think that trying to overturn any earlier cases should wait as well. Anything otherwise would be hypocritical, unprofessional, and offensive to the American people and Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memory. I truly hope for the best for everyone and that the outcome is more than sufficient for the theatre world. -Ariel Bernhard
This is a great example of how the “politicization” of groups and industries, and the desire to not make things political is really a push to keep people from arguing for their best interests. The members of Equity stand to directly suffer if the Affordable Care Act were to be struck down by the Supreme Court. We as a nation are still debating whether healthcare is a human right and as long as we continue having that discussion, it is in the best interest of unions to speak out and demand better from the Senate. People are in danger of losing their health insurance and it is well within their right to speak out so that that does not happen. Regardless of Amy Coney Barrett’s any other political philosophies, the danger she poses to the ACA is enough to warrant this statement and any others from unions across the country.
3 comments:
For the first time in history, I'm really seeing this deep dislike and hatred for Unions coming from the right. I don't get it. For as long as I can remember, I've seen unions as a safe guard, as a place for benefits, and as an organization that proves that any which profession has power in numbers. I think that AEA was right in weighing in because as the article points out, we rely on things like the Affordable Care Act to keep our business sustainable. My thoughts on the nomination aside, this is a clear example of how this nomination has the capability to upend our lives and get rid of unions, which in the theater industry is the only safe guard against improper hours and work conditions, and frankly poverty. I also want to point out that even if the court is supposed to be the most important and sacred branches in government, it is currently compromised by the climate of our nation.
This statement from The Actor’s Equity Association makes it clear how intertwined politics and industries can be, especially in such an unsettling time. I know that it is incredibly difficult to live up to the legacy Ruth Bader Ginsburg has left behind, and while I’m sure that Amy Coney Barrett is hopefully a wonderful person, I do not think she is the correct fit for this seat. There is so much at stake from Health care to the Heroes act, possible even abortion rights and marriage laws, to so much more. All of these issues hit home in the theatre world and I truly hope that there is no confirmation of a new justice until after the election has come to an end. I also think that trying to overturn any earlier cases should wait as well. Anything otherwise would be hypocritical, unprofessional, and offensive to the American people and Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s memory. I truly hope for the best for everyone and that the outcome is more than sufficient for the theatre world.
-Ariel Bernhard
This is a great example of how the “politicization” of groups and industries, and the desire to not make things political is really a push to keep people from arguing for their best interests. The members of Equity stand to directly suffer if the Affordable Care Act were to be struck down by the Supreme Court. We as a nation are still debating whether healthcare is a human right and as long as we continue having that discussion, it is in the best interest of unions to speak out and demand better from the Senate. People are in danger of losing their health insurance and it is well within their right to speak out so that that does not happen. Regardless of Amy Coney Barrett’s any other political philosophies, the danger she poses to the ACA is enough to warrant this statement and any others from unions across the country.
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