SAGWatch – Observing the Screen Actors Guild and AFTRA

Here’s Keri Tombazian’s latest e-mail blast, concerning the Membership First Trojan campaign and the group’s Hollywood Division’s raiding resolution.

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IMPORTANT

If you thought about ignoring your AFTRA Board election ballot when it arrives – please consider the following.  This is turning out to be an urgent election.

Last night at an open Hollywood Board SAG meeting, Membership First passed the following motion made by Angel Tompkins a member who was expelled from AFTRA.  

“ I move that a task force of Hollywood board members only be formed, to explore the acquisition of actors of  AFTRA. The Task Force is to be made up of seven (7) Board members, National or divisional with the Chairperson to be the first Vice President of the Hollywood Board. And this task force is charged to bring back their recommendation  as a motion to the Hollywood board which in turn the Hollywood Board will bring such a recommendation to the National board. “

The National Labor Relations Board has a word for what Angel and the MFs want to do… Its called “raiding”.  What an irresponsible waste of time.  Elected and staff will now have to spend precious time setting this right.

Our Vice-president, Anne Marie Johnson knows full well that there are rules in our SAG by-laws that balance all committees to include members from the branches. What an abuse of the chair to allow this motion to stand.  Shame on her.

MF is now on record with their true purpose: not to merge our unions – but to gut AFTRA.  Remember – the tv/theatrical contract that is keeping actors working now is the one that AFTRA negotiated.  The union that is currently protecting the interests of actors is AFTRA.

No surprise – every “yes” vote on the motion came from Membership First.  Every member of Unite For Strength voted “NO” – There were a handful of MFs who abstained from the vote out of concern that by their vote they might be in violation of the non-disparagement agreement that is current in place.  A couple of MFs simply broke with their party and voted “no” – good for them.

I have been in both unions since somewhere around 1976.  I have been active either on the board, in committees, or as union activist since 2000.  I have seen a lot of antics coming from membership first and their predecessors, the Performance Alliance.  And yet, I confess, I am dumbfounded by this move.  Please indulge me now as I have strived hard to avoid falling into name calling.  I believe in principle over personality, issue over party.  So I ask you to forgive me my analogy here:  they are like a feral dog after a bone when it comes to destroying AFTRA.  

Please keep them out of the AFTRA board room.

Keri