Exclusive: As SAG-AFTRA prepares for a possible strike next week, Fran Drescher, the guild’s president, said in a recent email chain that she was willing to go on strike in 2021 over Hollywood’s Covid vaccination mandates.
Drescher, who had been the leading voice among union leaders against the mandates, on Thursday told critics who accused her of not doing enough to end them that “If it were up to me, I would have asked to strike over it, but a union cannot strike with a handful of members when repeatedly, even today with all the controversy, the majority as seen in the LA local meeting, overwhelmingly disagree with you or have changed their thinking on this issue.”
The mandates were approved by the studios, guilds and unions as part of the industry’s Covid return-to-work protocols and allowed employers to require vaccinations as a condition of employment. First implemented in June 2021, the mandates ended,...
Drescher, who had been the leading voice among union leaders against the mandates, on Thursday told critics who accused her of not doing enough to end them that “If it were up to me, I would have asked to strike over it, but a union cannot strike with a handful of members when repeatedly, even today with all the controversy, the majority as seen in the LA local meeting, overwhelmingly disagree with you or have changed their thinking on this issue.”
The mandates were approved by the studios, guilds and unions as part of the industry’s Covid return-to-work protocols and allowed employers to require vaccinations as a condition of employment. First implemented in June 2021, the mandates ended,...
- 7/8/2023
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: SAG-AFTRA’s national election committee has dismissed a plethora of post-election protests that were filed by the losing candidates and their supporters in the union’s recent election in which Fran Drescher, running on the ruling party’s Unite for Strength (Ufs) slate, was elected president, and Joely Fisher, running on the opposition Membership First slate, was voted in as national secretary-treasurer, defeating Anthony Rapp.
Matthew Modine, who was defeated in his second bid for the presidency, was one of several MembershipFirst candidates who filed protests, though Fisher, his victorious running mate, did not challenge the outcome. Other complaints were filed by SAG-AFTRA members Peter Antico, Adam Nelson, Chuck Slavin, David Clennon, Samantha Hartson and Kevin Cannon.
“We have carefully reviewed and considered the protests, the parties’ submissions, the Election Policy, the SAG-AFTRA Constitution, and applicable federal election law,” the committee said in its decision. “We conclude that there...
Matthew Modine, who was defeated in his second bid for the presidency, was one of several MembershipFirst candidates who filed protests, though Fisher, his victorious running mate, did not challenge the outcome. Other complaints were filed by SAG-AFTRA members Peter Antico, Adam Nelson, Chuck Slavin, David Clennon, Samantha Hartson and Kevin Cannon.
“We have carefully reviewed and considered the protests, the parties’ submissions, the Election Policy, the SAG-AFTRA Constitution, and applicable federal election law,” the committee said in its decision. “We conclude that there...
- 10/9/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Fran Drescher supporters have held on to two more national board seats as the SAG-AFTRA elections wrap up later this week. Incumbent Bill Mootos has been reelected in New England, and incumbent Mel MacKaron has been reelected in New Mexico.
With only four of the union’s 25 local races to be decided, it now looks more and more likely that Drescher’s ruling Unite for Strength party and its affiliates will continue to hold a majority of the 80 National board members, which includes the 10 national officers, no matter who wins the national presidency – Drescher or Matthew Modine. Local elections in Los Angeles and New York, where 23 national board seats are still up for grabs, will determine the balance of power. Those races, and the campaigns for national president and secretary-treasurer, will conclude Thursday.
In New England, Mootos defeated Chuck Slavin by a 2-to-1 margin – 469 votes to 225. Slavin was endorsed by Modine’s MembershipFirst slate.
With only four of the union’s 25 local races to be decided, it now looks more and more likely that Drescher’s ruling Unite for Strength party and its affiliates will continue to hold a majority of the 80 National board members, which includes the 10 national officers, no matter who wins the national presidency – Drescher or Matthew Modine. Local elections in Los Angeles and New York, where 23 national board seats are still up for grabs, will determine the balance of power. Those races, and the campaigns for national president and secretary-treasurer, will conclude Thursday.
In New England, Mootos defeated Chuck Slavin by a 2-to-1 margin – 469 votes to 225. Slavin was endorsed by Modine’s MembershipFirst slate.
- 8/31/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Olga Wilhelmine, SAG-aftra’s national board member from New Orleans, is on a mission. With so many of her fellow actors struggling financially during the pandemic, she’s trying to connect them with their unclaimed residuals.
The union is holding tens of millions of dollars in unclaimed SAG residuals for tens of thousands of actors and their heirs that it can’t locate. Wilhelmine wants to help find them and get them the money they’re owed.
She sent a letter to the union’s leaders this week asking them to establish a task force “to assist the Residuals Department with the location of members or their heirs and the distribution of their unclaimed residuals; and in establishing new procedures to expedite that distribution.”
In the meantime, however, she’s been reaching out to actors on her own whose names she’s found while scouring the union’s unclaimed residuals website,...
The union is holding tens of millions of dollars in unclaimed SAG residuals for tens of thousands of actors and their heirs that it can’t locate. Wilhelmine wants to help find them and get them the money they’re owed.
She sent a letter to the union’s leaders this week asking them to establish a task force “to assist the Residuals Department with the location of members or their heirs and the distribution of their unclaimed residuals; and in establishing new procedures to expedite that distribution.”
In the meantime, however, she’s been reaching out to actors on her own whose names she’s found while scouring the union’s unclaimed residuals website,...
- 6/4/2020
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
After one of the most openly hostile guild elections in recent Hollywood memory, SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris pulled out a victory over challenger Matthew Modine, ensuring the continued control of Hollywood’s actors guild by the Unite For Strength party for at least the next two years.
The “Beverly Hills 90210” star won 44% of the 30,837 votes cast, the union said, while Modine won 35%, SAG-aftra reported early Thursday. Jane Austin followed with 5,048 votes, Queen Alljahye Searles with 1,096 votes and Abraham Justice with 367 votes.
In addition, “The Practice” star Camryn Manheim was elected as secretary-treasurer with 52% of the ballots cast, defeating Jodi Long, Chuck Slavin and Rob Stats.
“I’m very grateful to all of the dedicated SAG-aftra members who participated in our union’s elections,” Carteris said in a statement. “Their support is humbling and I vow to fight every day on their behalf. We will keep building on our commitment to honesty,...
The “Beverly Hills 90210” star won 44% of the 30,837 votes cast, the union said, while Modine won 35%, SAG-aftra reported early Thursday. Jane Austin followed with 5,048 votes, Queen Alljahye Searles with 1,096 votes and Abraham Justice with 367 votes.
In addition, “The Practice” star Camryn Manheim was elected as secretary-treasurer with 52% of the ballots cast, defeating Jodi Long, Chuck Slavin and Rob Stats.
“I’m very grateful to all of the dedicated SAG-aftra members who participated in our union’s elections,” Carteris said in a statement. “Their support is humbling and I vow to fight every day on their behalf. We will keep building on our commitment to honesty,...
- 8/29/2019
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Gabrielle Carteris has been re-elected president of SAG-aftra, fending off challenges from Matthew Modine and three other contenders.
Carteris won handily with 13,537 votes, or 44% of ballots cast, to 10,682 for Modine and 5,048 for Jane Austin, 1,096 for Queen Alljahye Searles and 367 for Abraham Justice.
The results were announced early Thursday morning at 4 a.m. following one of the most bitter election campaigns in memory, including multiple accusations of misconduct.
Camryn Manheim won the secretary-treasurer post with 16,047 votes, or 53%, as Carteris’ running mate. She defeated Modine ally Jodi Long, who garnered 10,251 votes, followed by Chuck Slavin with 2,204 votes and Rob Stats with 1,790. The union mailed a total of 145,700 ballots, so the participation level was about 21%.
Carteris, best known for playing Andrea Zuckerman on “Beverly Hills 90210,” has been president since 2016. She and her allies in the moderate-leaning Unite For Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide have been in control of SAG-AFTRA and SAG for a decade.
Carteris won handily with 13,537 votes, or 44% of ballots cast, to 10,682 for Modine and 5,048 for Jane Austin, 1,096 for Queen Alljahye Searles and 367 for Abraham Justice.
The results were announced early Thursday morning at 4 a.m. following one of the most bitter election campaigns in memory, including multiple accusations of misconduct.
Camryn Manheim won the secretary-treasurer post with 16,047 votes, or 53%, as Carteris’ running mate. She defeated Modine ally Jodi Long, who garnered 10,251 votes, followed by Chuck Slavin with 2,204 votes and Rob Stats with 1,790. The union mailed a total of 145,700 ballots, so the participation level was about 21%.
Carteris, best known for playing Andrea Zuckerman on “Beverly Hills 90210,” has been president since 2016. She and her allies in the moderate-leaning Unite For Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide have been in control of SAG-AFTRA and SAG for a decade.
- 8/29/2019
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
SAG-AFTRA has released the official line-up of national officer candidates in its upcoming election.
For president, incumbent Gabrielle Carteris will face off against Matthew Modine, head of the Membership First opposition slate; Jane Austin, the guild’s current national secretary-treasurer; actor/stuntman Abraham Justice, and Queen Alljahye Searles, who describes herself on Twitter as an “Entertainment Industry Professional-Teacher-Mother-Accountant-Entrepreneur-Gourmet Culinary Artist-Writer.”
The candidates for national secretary-treasurer are Jodi Long, running on the opposition slate; Camryn Manheim, running on Carteris’ Unite for Strength slate; New England-based actor Chuck Slavin; and actor/stuntman Rob Stats.
Some 45 national board seats are up for election this year, along with all local officer, local board, and convention delegate positions. The guild’s executive vice president and other vice presidents will be elected at the SAG-aftra Convention in October.
National officer ballots will be mailed to all eligible SAG-aftra members nationwide on July 29, with a...
For president, incumbent Gabrielle Carteris will face off against Matthew Modine, head of the Membership First opposition slate; Jane Austin, the guild’s current national secretary-treasurer; actor/stuntman Abraham Justice, and Queen Alljahye Searles, who describes herself on Twitter as an “Entertainment Industry Professional-Teacher-Mother-Accountant-Entrepreneur-Gourmet Culinary Artist-Writer.”
The candidates for national secretary-treasurer are Jodi Long, running on the opposition slate; Camryn Manheim, running on Carteris’ Unite for Strength slate; New England-based actor Chuck Slavin; and actor/stuntman Rob Stats.
Some 45 national board seats are up for election this year, along with all local officer, local board, and convention delegate positions. The guild’s executive vice president and other vice presidents will be elected at the SAG-aftra Convention in October.
National officer ballots will be mailed to all eligible SAG-aftra members nationwide on July 29, with a...
- 7/25/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Actress and union activist Jodi Long is running for the office SAG-AFTRA national secretary-treasurer on the Membership First slate headed by presidential candidate Matthew Modine.
Long, a member of the guild’s national board, will be squaring off in the upcoming election against Camryn Manheim, who’s running on President Gabrielle Carteris’ Unite for Strength slate, and independent candidate Chuck Slavin. The union’s top elected financial post is currently held by Jane Austin, who’s running for president as an independent.
“Game-changing technology in our industry requires foresight,” Long said in her first campaign statement. “Matthew Modine and our Membership First slate possess the vision and the fortitude to excel. Whether it’s the tough job of negotiating new contracts, implementing innovative solutions within an ever-changing landscape, or ensuring membership — and the next generation — enjoy the very same benefits our former union brethren had the foresight to set in place.
Long, a member of the guild’s national board, will be squaring off in the upcoming election against Camryn Manheim, who’s running on President Gabrielle Carteris’ Unite for Strength slate, and independent candidate Chuck Slavin. The union’s top elected financial post is currently held by Jane Austin, who’s running for president as an independent.
“Game-changing technology in our industry requires foresight,” Long said in her first campaign statement. “Matthew Modine and our Membership First slate possess the vision and the fortitude to excel. Whether it’s the tough job of negotiating new contracts, implementing innovative solutions within an ever-changing landscape, or ensuring membership — and the next generation — enjoy the very same benefits our former union brethren had the foresight to set in place.
- 7/17/2019
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
In what could be a sign of things to come, candidates endorsed by SAG-aftra President Ken Howard and his running mate Jenny O'Hara have won landslide victories in local elections in New England. Michele Proude was re-elected President of the New England local, outpolling challenger Chuck Slavin by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, while Tom Kemp was re-elected VP with more than 60% of the vote in a three-way race. Howard and O'Hara are running on the Unite for Strength ticket, and…...
- 8/14/2015
- Deadline TV
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