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Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity, is urging stage actors to “proactively and aggressively avoid” breaking the SAG-AFTRA strike by accepting unintentionally struck work.
In a message to members of Equity, which represents stage actors and stage managers, Shindle writes, “You know: the other side will try to play us off against each other to keep producing content. Don’t fall for that.”
“I cannot stress enough how important it is for members (and prospective members!) to be proactive and aggressive in preventing the @sagaftra strike from being broken,” Shindle writes, adding, “If you have work of any kind for being offered a #AMPTP employer, Don “Don’t take third party word that ‘it’s ok’ or ‘it doesn’t fall under the strike’… call @sagaftra and ask if carrying out the work in question is ok strike undermines.”
Read Shindle’s entire message below.
“If you don’t know if you’re being asked to go on strike, that’s understandable; It’s a complex subject,” says Shindle. “But it is up to each of us to ensure that we do not betray other workers, even when our faces are not on camera. Executing painting leads to a race to the bottom.”
Shindle reminds Equity members that work withheld from SAG-AFTRA members includes auditioning for AMPTP projects, on-set participation, post-production, promotion and more. “If in doubt – or to report strike-breaking activity – contact @sagaftra as soon as possible.”
“Every strike is important,” writes the Equity President, “but this one is existential.” This is a generational struggle for a fair and functioning entertainment industry, and our opponents have almost unlimited resources at their disposal. But we have the workers. We can do it.”
SAG-AFTRA strike will not impact Broadway productions. SAG-AFTRA members who perform on Broadway work under equity contracts, with actors typically holding dual union memberships.
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I can’t stress enough how important it is to members (and prospective members!) of @ActorsEquity to proactively and aggressively avoid a breach @sagaftra hit. Note that the other side will try to pit us against each other to keep producing content. Don’t fall for it. (1/5) pic.twitter.com/wcnD6yPqmB
— Kate Shindle/#PassThePROAct (@AEAPresident) July 14, 2023
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If you don’t know if you’re being asked to go on strike, that’s understandable; It’s a complex subject. But it is up to each of us to ensure that we do not betray other workers, even when our faces are not on camera. Executing painting jobs leads to a race to the bottom. 3/5)
— Kate Shindle/#PassThePROAct (@AEAPresident) July 14, 2023
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Every shot is important, but this one is existential. This is a generational struggle for a fair and functioning entertainment industry, and our opponents have almost unlimited resources. But we have the workers. We can do it. #ActorsStrike #1u (5/5)
— Kate Shindle/#PassThePROAct (@AEAPresident) July 14, 2023