Variety: Leaders of SAG-AFTRA have escalated the union’s bitter jurisdictional battle with Actors’ Equity Association, asking that the Associated Actors and Artistes of America name a mediator.
SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris and National Executive Director David White also requested AFL-CIO intervention in a letter to Richard Trumka, president of the national labor federation.
3 comments:
This is so damn rough. I do not know who is right and who is wrong in this circumstance. All I know is that SAG is a much bigger fish than AEA. However, I think that in terms of protecting its people, AEA is doing the right thing. Stage Management has been eliminated in many streaming contracts that are being made by theaters at the moment, and it does feel as though SAG is stepping on AEA’s toes. This article paints AEA as the bad guy though. I hate the fact that because of SAG’s interference, Equity employees have lost $600,000 in earnings and over $100,000 lost in contributions to the Equity Health Fund. SAG is sucking AEA dry. It’s nice to see that Equity will be putting up a fight, but it’s so damn frustrating that this “jurisdiction” bullshit it happening in the first place. I wonder what the best solution could be for both unions.
I agree with Ella that this is rough. I feel like SAG pre this jurisdictional issue explosion was being much more open though I also see AEA wanting to defend Stage Managers. I also have anecdotally heard that AEA even pre-this whole union jurisdiction battle hasn't been really good to work with as many companies have followed the safety protocol that AEA has asked for and still been denied contracts. AEA seems like they haven't been collaborating generally through this from the perspective a handful of artistic and executive directors that I have heard from. I am glad that SAG is taking the dispute up to AFL-CIO because this issue really needs a monitor. It is sad to see the lack of collaboration and bitterness from both sides but this fight was bound to happen as streaming and digital platforms without the pandemic are probably going to expand as we technology gets more involved in our arts. Something I learned from this article is the incredible size difference between SAG and AEA, I didn’t realize how SAG was over two times the size of AEA. I hate to be this person but there are AEA contracts that pay people 250 dollars a week (see many SPT contracts) so as low as 125 dollars is, AEA look at your contracts. You generally don’t pay people a lot so seeing this specific numerical fact is a little shocking because to be completely honest, it doesn’t sound like a little in AEA numbers. I know 125 dollars a day for a couple days of filming and rehearsal is nowhere near a living wage. I understand that AEA is upset about the loss of revenue but to my understanding from conversations with some AEA members, AEA was already not in good financial straits. Something else I learned is that the AFL-CIO says that people can’t “organize or attempt to represent employees as to whom an established collective bargaining relationship exists with any other affiliate.” However, this article does point out the jurisdictional agreement between the 4As and I would love to see that as it definitely complicates this issue.
I agree, this is a mess. It makes me ask the question, who are the unions really protecting here? Equity isn't without its flaws for sure, for example I have a friend who is an equity actor that just received a bill for his dues for the year, amidst the global pandemic. As Alexander noted, equity hasn't been flexible with its membership with its intense safety guidelines, meaning equity members haven't had many, if any, opportunities to earn income this year through equity productions. Yet, AEA is still expecting all its members to pay their dues and figure it out. Meanwhile, SAG claiming jurisdiction over ALL televised theatrical performances, while precedented, just comes at a time where we need to be thinking about those most affected by this pandemic: the members. Instead, stage managers are being thrown to the side as independent contractors, and performers are getting worse compensation and benefits than they do for the equivalent AEA contracts. Who are these unions protecting right now? Is it their membership or their organization?
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