A Statement by Alan Rosenberg

(Los Angeles, February 3, 2008) -- Screen Actors Guild released the following statement on behalf of National President Alan Rosenberg who is also a member of the AFL-CIO Executive Council:

“We have been notified that the AFL-CIO has determined that branch unions of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (Four A’s), including Equity, AFTRA or SAG, may upon request become and remain directly chartered by the AFL-CIO. However, at Screen Actors Guild’s request, such direct AFL-CIO affiliation will be in effect only so long as the affiliating union continues to be a member of the Four A’s and remains bound by the obligations of such membership. Four A’s membership particularly includes the obligation to resolve jurisdictional disputes through the Four A’s dispute resolution process.

“We are pleased that the AFL-CIO has preserved the Four A’s, the esteemed and traditional home of actors’ unions. We are further gratified that the AFL-CIO has rejected AFTRA’s attempt to diminish Four A’s solidarity by withdrawing from Four A’s membership to seek a direct charter.

“Today’s comments by Roberta Reardon, AFTRA president, indicate that AFTRA has unilaterally ended its joint bargaining relationship with Screen Actors Guild. AFTRA is free to end our joint bargaining relationship, but they cannot excuse that action by saying that SAG has done anything to abrogate Phase I -- that is simply untrue. We are at this very moment engaged in an effort to put the question of our joint bargaining relationship to a vote of the SAG membership, a democratic courtesy AFTRA does not afford their members.

“If SAG members vote to end Phase I, we will, once again, attempt to engage AFTRA in substantive negotiations aimed at producing a fairer, stronger bargaining relationship. It is up to the leadership of AFTRA whether they choose to participate in that effort.

“Screen Actors Guild’s position is unchanged: It is our intention to serve our membership by negotiating jointly with AFTRA in a way that is fair to the membership of both organizations, and especially to the 44,000 dual card holders that comprise more than two thirds of AFTRA’s active, paid up membership. To do that, we are seeking a vote of our membership in keeping with the democratic practices and policies of our union. Although AFTRA may not choose to consult their members on issues that so significantly impact actors lives, such communication with our members is essential to the democratic process valued by Screen Actors Guild.”

Alan Rosenberg
President, Screen Actors Guild
Member, AFL-CIO Executive Council