Friday, February 25, 2011

What is at risk in Wisconsin is our future







Dear SAG Members: 


In Wisconsin and around our country, the American Dream is under fierce attack.  On Saturday, February 26, at noon local time, Rally to Save the American Dream is organizing rallies in front of every statehouse and in every major city to stand in solidarity with the people of Wisconsin.  Please join your fellow union members, the AFL-CIO and other supporters in front of your statehouse.  Please click here to find information about a rally in your area.   


Although Screen Actors Guild is a non-partisan organization, and therefore does not take positions on some of the demands of Save the American Dream, we unequivocally stand together with them, and with all working families, to end the attacks on worker’s rights.  If collective bargaining rights can be stripped away in a strong union state like Wisconsin, it can happen anywhere. Various anti-labor bills have recently been introduced in dozens of states. And, it is believed that if this action succeeds in Wisconsin, more and more anti-union efforts may spread across the country and ultimately could affect all labor organizations, including Screen Actors Guild.


All workers have a fundamental right to join unions and to engage in collective bargaining over workplace issues they face.


-From SAG National


Monday, February 21, 2011



SAG supports Wisconsin Workers












As you may have heard, there is a proposal currently before the Wisconsin legislature that will strip most of the collective bargaining rights from that state’s public workers. If passed, this action could have lasting and damaging consequences for union rights across the country.


Since our founding in 1933, Screen Actors Guild has strongly supported the rights of entertainment industry workers and all workers to join together and collectively bargain with employers. Collective bargaining insures that unions and employers negotiate together in the best interests of the members. Many in the labor movement believe that this type of proposal may spread across the country and ultimately, to labor organizations like Screen Actors Guild, with potentially devastating results for our members and for the entertainment industry.


We are taking action to support our fellow union members in Wisconsin. SAG has reached out to our members in and around Wisconsin and many of them are already on the ground in Madison. We are also reaching out to our highly recognizable members and legislative committee leadership to travel, with our organizing staff, to Wisconsin this week.  We also ask that you take part in this effort by speaking your mind on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and by voicing your support for Wisconsin union members and the right of all workers to join together and collectively bargain.


David White
National Executive Director
Screen Actors Guild


To find out more about rallies and support actions happening in cities across the country, please contact Nancy Fox at nfox@sag.org.


For more information, please visit the AFL-CIO website at:




You can also support the effort via social networking sites:


On Facebook (comments are welcome) at:


Screen Actors






Use hash tags #wiunions on the SAG Twitter handles:


@screenactors
@sagnews


Screen Actors Guild

Sunday, February 6, 2011

Screen Actors Guild President Ronald Reagan

February 6, 2011: The Ronald Reagan Centennial


n 1947, Guild President Ronald Reagan, center, with fellow Guild officers, left to right: 3rd VP George Murphy, 1st VP Gene Kelly and 2nd VP William Holden.









Before he became the 40th president of the United States, Ronald Reagan was president of Screen Actors Guild – during two significant periods.

Reagan, who began his career as a star of radio, film and television, first served the Guild as president from March 1947 through November 1952 (after serving previously as 3rd vice president and on the board). During this period, storied for its political and labor strife, his leadership paved the way for SAG’s first contract in television, among other accomplishments.

At the request of the SAG National Board, Reagan returned to the SAG presidency in 1959 in order to head 1960 theatrical negotiations that ultimately resulted in the first pension and health plan for SAG members, not to mention residuals on films shot January 31, 1960, and after (once they were replayed on television).





On the anniversary of what would have been his 100th birthday today, Screen Actors Guild salutes the American icon for his acting legacy, his lasting contributions to the betterment of all professional actors through Guild leadership, and for his service to the country as a public servant.

You can read more about Reagan in the Screen Actor magazine “Snapshot” on page 68 of the Fall/Winter 2010 digital issue and at reagancentennial.com.





April 9, 1947: New SAG President Ronald Reagan at podium at the Hollywood Legion Stadium at a special informational membership meeting on proposals for upcoming theatrical negotiations. 



I
Reagan and wife Nancy
  
November 21, 1960: SAG Annual Membership Meeting at the Beverly Hilton. In a meeting led by newly-elected President George Chandler, who had served as president since Ronald Reagan’s resignation in June. At this meeting, Reagan is presented with a gold and black marble pen and pencil desk set, inscribed: 


To Ronald Reagan, whose unselfish leadership and devotion to the welfare of his fellow actors have gained him the affection of all in the Screen Actors Guild, this token of appreciation is presented by the Board of Directors on behalf of the membership at the Annual Meeting, November 21, 1960.”

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