HED letter April 2009

These are challenging economic times for most of us.   Costly medical bills, mortgage foreclosures, industry layoffs, coupled with stretched federal, state and municipal funds, have taken a toll. These detrimental forces contribute to the struggle of hard-working families across America.

Additionally, as more and more media companies and conglomerates consolidate into fewer entities and reality programs fill prime time hours, employment opportunities disappear, union crews are forced to work for minimums and professional actors’ lose their leverage to negotiate their rates. Everyone  “below the line” and beyond is affected. 

For this and many other reasons, it is essential that you and your families support The Employee Free Choice Act (H.R. 800, S, 1041) -- the bi-partisan legislation that would guarantee the right of all American workers to organize and form unions. The law would allow workers protections to organize in a timely manner, vote for union representation, and further their ability to negotiate for better wages, health care and working conditions.  Good jobs are one of the keys to our country’s recovery.

Non-union actors are replacing professional SAG actors on many sets and locations throughout the country. Screen Actors Guild needs to organize these productions and make sure they are covered by union contracts. The EFCA will allow cast and crew members to vote (by secret ballot if they desire) for union representation in days, instead of the current dragged out weeks or months. We would then have the new right to bargain a “first contract.”

It is critical that all California SAG members contact Senator Diane Feinstein at let her know that you support The Employee Free Choice Act.  Identify yourself as a proud member of Screen Actors Guild. Banding together, we can make a difference by helping to pass critical legislation supporting workers’ rights. This bill recognizes and restores the value of all American workers.

In unity,

Ilyanne Morden Kichaven
Hollywood Executive Director