Amidst an ongoing strike against Hollywood producers, the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) has re-elected Fran Drescher as union President and Joely Fisher as Secretary-Treasurer.
Their new two-year terms began on Friday, as announced by the union.
“I am honored to serve another term as president of the union. These times are filled with changes, and as a united member body, we will face challenges head-on, standing strong on our principles. We will ensure that our significant contributions to this collaborative art form are never diminished, but rather celebrated,” expressed Drescher.
Drescher added, “I strive for equality in every aspect for all our members, and I will persist in fighting against marginalization and discrimination within our union, as well as from employers and the wider world. Our primary objective as a labor union is to ensure equal opportunities for everyone to work. Together, we will overcome partisanship and cultivate a new culture of respect, patience, and understanding. Our decisions must be guided by wisdom and not influenced by politics. Although we have achieved a lot in the past two years, I am optimistic that the next two will be even more remarkable! As we let go of divisions and embrace empathy for one another, as we learn from our experiences and strive for self-improvement, we will usher in a golden age for SAG-AFTRA.”
Ballots for the national officers’ election were sent to 124,477 eligible voters in August, and 28,430 were returned by Friday, according to the union. Drescher received 23,080 votes, while Maya Gilbert-Dunbar received 5,276 votes.
In the secretary-treasurer election, Fisher gained 19,777 votes, defeating Peter Antico who received 8,361 votes.
The strikes by the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA have brought film and television production to a standstill, with no resolution in sight. The WGA strike began in May, while SAG-AFTRA joined in July.
The studios last met with the WGA on August 22, and no known contract talks have taken place between SAG-AFTRA and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, the negotiating body for the studios.
Both unions are striking for similar reasons, primarily seeking better residuals for streaming content and safeguards against the use of artificial intelligence.
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