Thats far from the unanimity that was clearly desired by presidentFran Drescherand National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree-Ireland.
It is the most lucrative, innovative and protective contract in entertainment union history!
Drescher proclaimed in pitch mode.
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If youve been in the business long enough, you know well be exploited.
If and when they do, we will update.
In the meantime, read Matthew ModinesSAG-AFTRA dealstatement in full here:
Happy holiday season.
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Theres so much to be grateful for.
We appreciate the negotiation committee and their attempt to arrive at a fair and equitable deal.
While there are improvements and gains, I will not vote to ratify the contract.
Members should vote their conscience.
I cannot endorse a contract that compromises the independence and financial futures of the performers.
As a National Board Member, its morally mandatory to stand beside and provide protection for fellow members.
Within the contract, the word consent is evoked at least a dozen times.
It is purposefully vague and demands union members to release their autonomy.
Once this information is collected, a member can be regenerated whenever and however the contract holder chooses forever.
Scott Pelley:The risksare what?
Scott Pelley:What is a path forward that ensures safety?
Geoffrey Hinton:I dont know.
I I cant see a path that guarantees safety.
Were entering a period of great uncertainty where were dealing with things weve never dealt with before.
And normally, the first time you deal with something totally novel, you get it wrong.
And we cant afford to get it wrong with these things.
The unions marketing department is enthusiastically telling members to approve this contract.
To do so is disingenuous at best and duplicitous at worst.
Members need to understand what theyre signing away by consenting as written within this contract.
Consent means surrendering your physical and vocal identity to an employer.
Imagine how disappointed members would be if they learned what they were actually being fed.
Not sharing the entire contract is irresponsible.
Yes, SAG-AFTRA members will have a right to say No when asked to consent.
Others will be forced, out of financial or career necessity, to relent and succumb.
Surrendering their voices and unique physicality to be digitized and stored within an employers hard drive and forever owned.
The fourth tier is the endgame.
Tier four wont necessitate consent.
It wont contribute any dues to the union.
The studios wont have to negotiate with anyone.
Level four is the non-union synthesized scab performers digitally cobbled together from dead actors.
Consent, in the context of this agreement, is tyranny.
Ratification of this contract will result in greater job reductions especially for background and stunt performers.
This loss of SAG-AFTRAlaborwill negatively impact our sister unions, primarily IATSE tradespeople and the Teamsters.
Even monstrously resurrecting voices of performers who are no longer living.
Union means being joined together in cause and common interests.
This was demonstrated by thousands of members over the course of the strike.
We marched for a stronger union.
We marched for a fair deal and protections.
We stood together to ensure our work environments were safe.
We must continue to demand financial participation in the work we collectively create.
