Four Honored for Promoting Diversity in Entertainment Industry
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The Equal Employment Opportunity Committees of Actors’ Equity, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors (SAG) will honor four performing artists who have made important contributions to increasing diversity in their professions. The 2009 Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on June 29.
The awards celebrate individuals and organizations that take an active stand for diversity within the industry. This year’s theme, “Storytellers,” commends individuals who, by sharing their own stories, have encouraged cross-cultural understanding and enabled others to express their dreams and creativity.
The 2009 honorees are:
- Actor George Takei for his long-standing history of activism for artists of every race and creed, including his work with the Arts in Transit program that creates opportunity for artists within the public sector;
- Victoria Ann Lewis, writer, actor and teacher who established the Other Voices Project, which cultivates and produces writers and performers with disabilities;
- Cheryl Burke, a dancer who encourages children of all ethnicities to express themselves through movement;
- Charlie Hill, a Native American stand-up comedian and storyteller who uses humor to share elements unique to Native American culture and those we all share.
SAG Members Approve TV, Theatrical Contracts
Members of the Screen Actors (SAG) voted overwhelmingly yesterday to approve new two-year basic agreements covering film and digital TV programs, motion pictures and new media productions.
Negotiations between SAG and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) began more than a year ago. The two sides reached tentative agreements on April 16. The contracts were approved by a mail ballot. In February, the SAG national board overwhelmingly rejected what was then called the AMPTP’s last, best and final offer, but negotiations continued.
SAG, AFTRA Members Ratify Commercials Pact
In a nationwide mail ballot completed yesterday, members of the Screen Actors (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) overwhelmingly approved new three-year contracts with the advertising industry. The new agreements cover performers working in commercials made for and reused on TV, radio, the Internet and new media.
The unions estimate the contract will raise members’ earnings by more than $108 million over the three-year agreement. The deal also establishes a first-ever payment structure in commercials for the Internet and new media. The new payment structure goes into effect in the third year of the contract.
Workers at American Airlines Protest CEO Bonuses, and More Bargaining News
Workers at American Airlines protest massive stock bonuses for top execs—and more updates from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
WORK STOPPAGES AND JOB ACTIONS
TWU, American Airlines: Thousands of mechanics and ground workers at American Airlines, represented by the Transport Workers (TWU), protested outside the carrier’s Fort Worth, Texas, headquarters in reaction to the stock bonuses for top executives and managers that were paid out on April 16.
Actors, Producers Reach Tentative Contract
After nearly a year of negotiations, the Screen Actors (SAG) reached a tentative agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) on a new basic agreement covering television programs and motion pictures.
Details of the tentative deal will not be disclosed until after the SAG national board of directors reviews it this weekend. If the board approves, then the agreement must be ratified by the membership.
In February, the SAG national board overwhelmingly rejected what was then called the AMPTP’s last, best and final offer, but negotiations continued.
Stars Light Up SAG Awards
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| The Screen Actors honored James Earl Jones for his lifetime achievement as an actor and humanitarian. |
Last night, the stars were out in Hollywood as the members of the Screen Actors (SAG) honored their own at the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards® show.
The cast of “Slumdog Millionaire” took home the top honor for best performance by a cast in a motion picture. Meryl Streep and Sean Penn won the awards for best performance by an actress and actor in a leading role for their performances in “Doubt” and “Milk,” respectively.
The other winners included the late Heath Ledger who won best performance as a supporting actor for his role in “The Dark Knight.” On the TV side, Hugh Laurie (”House”) and Sally Field ( Brothers & Sisters) were honored for their performances in a drama series and the cast of “30 Rock” swept the TV comedy category with Alec Baldwin winning best actor, Tina Fey best actress and the entire cast winning the award foir best ensemble. You can check out all last night’s winners here.
During his remarks, SAG President Alan Rosenberg spoke about the importance of the union to the nation’s actors.
SAG is a union. We are proud to be union and and we look forward to the day when all workers can have the freedom to join a union.
James Earl Jones received the Lifetime Achievement Award, the union’s highest honor. Jones joins an all-star cast of previous winners, who include Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward (1986), Elizabeth Taylor (1997), Ricardo Montelbán (1993), Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee (2000), Edward Asner (2001), Clint Eastwood (2002), Shirley Temple Black (2005), Julie Andrews (2006) and Charles Durning (2007).
In an interview with SAG’s magazine, Screen Actor, Jones says the recognition by his peers is special:
So often you think, well is this is a popularity contest? You can never answer that, or disprove it, really. But in this case it is the people who do the same work you do, saying that work is good. And that’s important.
Don’t Miss SAG Awards This Sunday
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| Angela Bassett, star of the TV series “ER,” is one of the presenters at this year’s SAG Awards. |
It’s time for the biggest awards show in Hollywood—the 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®. The only all-union awards show honors Screen Actors (SAG) members for their outstanding performances over the past year. This year SAG is bestowing its highest award for Life Achievement to James Earl Jones.
SAG is America’s largest union representing working actors, with 120,000 members in film, television, commercials, video games, music videos and other new media. The SAG Awards is the only nationally televised awards show of any kind that honors the work of union members.
There is a star-studded lineup of presenters, including Christina Applegate, Angela Bassett, Jon Hamm, John Krasinski, Eric McCormack, Kyra Sedgwick and William Shatner and Forest Whitaker.
The 2009 SAG Awards® ceremony will be simulcast live nationally on TNT and TBS on Sunday, Jan. 25, at 8 p.m. EST/PST, 7 p.m. CDT and 6 p.m. MST from the Los Angeles Shrine Exposition Center. An encore presentation will air on TNT at 11 p.m. EST/PST. For satellite and HD viewers, the live presentation can be seen on TBS and TNT at 8 p.m. EST (5 p.m. PST), while the encore can be seen on TNT at 11 p.m. EST (8 p.m. PST).
Machinists in St. Louis Authorize Strike, and More Bargaining News
Members of the Machinists (IAM) in St. Louis authorized a strike after rejecting a contract over the weekend—and more news here from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS
IAM, GKN Aerospace: Workers at GKN Aerospace in the suburban St. Louis area, represented by Machinists (IAM) District 837, authorized a strike, which allows union officials to give the company a seven-day notice for a strike. The authorization vote received 99 percent approval after workers rejected the company’s contract terms. Members want a sweetener for workers who could retire immediately but have seen their pension take a hit in the economy. Also at issue is the company’s proposal for nontraditional workweeks.
Screen Actors Postpone Strike Vote, and More Bargaining News
The Screen Actors (SAG) announced it would delay sending out strike authorization ballots until Jan. 14 at the earliest—and more news here from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS
SAG, Studios: The Screen Actors (SAG) announced it would delay sending out strike authorization ballots until Jan. 14 at the earliest. The union initially planned to send strike authorization ballots to more than 100,000 union members on Jan. 2, a date that would have put Oscar night within reach of a potential boycott.
Screen Actors Voting on Strike Action, and More Bargaining News
Members of the Screen Actors (SAG) are voting on whether to authorize a strike—and more news here from the “Bargaining Digest Weekly.” The AFL-CIO Collective Bargaining Department delivers daily, bargaining-related news and research resources to more than 900 subscribers. Union leaders can register for this service through our website, Bargaining@Work.
WORK STOPPAGES AND ACTIONS SAG, Studios: The Screen Actors (SAG) set a date for their strike authorization ballot over the union’s TV and movie contract with studios and producers, represented by the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). SAG will send out ballots Jan. 2 and make the results public on Jan. 23. SAG’s contract with AMPTP ran out on June 30. AMPTP has denounced the plan, and posted their last offer on their website.
