Latest SAG-AFTRA Board Meeting Provides No Commercial Talks Details To Members

LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK (Feb. 2, 2013) ' The National Board of Directors of SAG-AFTRA met in a scheduled one-day video plenary this weekend at both the James Cagney Board Room in Los Angeles and the Leon Janney Board Room in New York.

The Board approved a package of proposals for commercials negotiations presented by Assistant National Executive Director for Contracts Ray Rodriguez. The proposal package was recommended by the W&W Plenary Committee and Commercials Negotiating Committee.

National Executive Director and Chief Negotiator David White said, 'While there are difficult issues to negotiate ahead, we anticipate a productive dialogue with our bargaining partners and expect a result that is positive for our members.'

Negotiations with the Joint Policy Committee (JPC) of the American Association of Advertising Agencies (AAAA) and the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) commence on Feb.14 in New York. Additional reports were given by Co-Presidents Roberta Reardon and Ken Howard, as well as National Executive Director David White. The board also received a report on governance matters.

Co-Presidents' Report

Co-President Howard opened the meeting in honor of the late actor, entertainer and AFTRA and SAG activist Martha Greenhouse, who passed away Jan. 5. Co-President Reardon paid tribute to Greenhouse and called for a moment of silence. Howard followed by reading the honor roll of all members who have passed away since the previous board meeting and then led a moment of silence in their memory.

Howard recognized the enormous success of the Screen Actors Guild Awards broadcast and congratulated all of the nominees and recipients, singling out SAG Awards producer Kathy Connell for her outstanding work.

'It's always an exciting night, and this year's show was a terrific way to let over 8 million viewers around the world know about the merger of SAG and AFTRA,' Howard said.

Reardon said, 'These awards were a milestone for our new union. The energy and excitement in the room, knowing we were all one union was something I will never forget. It was a proud moment for SAG-AFTRA and the SAG Awards.'

Pension & Health and Health & Retirement Report

The Board received a report on the progress of reciprocity and merger efforts of the SAG-Producers Pension & Health Plans and the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds. The trustees of both organizations, which are separate from the union, continue formal communications regarding the issue of reciprocity and, ultimately merger between the plans, and discussions are progressing between the two organizations.

Governance Report

The board received recommendations and acted upon a package of governance-related items, including the first census of the new union in preparation for the first elections, and established an election schedule for national and local elections leading up to convention in September.

The meeting adjourned at 7:45 p.m. (Pacific) on Feb. 2.