SAG-AFTRA members hit
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A group of SAG-AFTRA strike leaders organized an open letter apparently signed by thousands of union members in solidarity amid the ongoing actors’ strike, saying: “We’re not all the way to the cave now.”
Signatories of the letter They appear to include Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Cynthia Nixon, Leslie Odom Jr., Demi Moore, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Jon Hamm, Mark Ruffalo, Jonathan Groff, Kate Walsh, Chelsea Handler and more. Hollywood Reporter He approached the representatives of these stars for comment.
“In June, before we went on strike, a large group of members signed an open letter telling our leaders that we would rather go on strike than accept a bad deal,” the letter said. “Now, more than 100 days into our strike, that’s still true. As hard as it is, we’d rather stay on strike than accept a bad deal.
The letter comes as SAG-AFTRA returns to negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers this week after the union has been on strike for more than 100 days. On Thursday, SAG-AFTRA gave an “all-out confrontation” to company leaders and will return to the negotiating table on Friday, SAG-AFTRA Television/Theatrical Negotiating Committee He told union members Friday.
Signatories were able to sign the letter via a Google form, but only organizers were aware of the names who signed the letter until the full list became public on Thursday evening.
THR I previously reported that a very different draft letter was circulating from a group of celebrities who were frustrated by the pace of contract talks. The draft, which began before SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP returned to the negotiating table this week, expressed concerns about SAG-AFTRA’s leadership. However, this message was presented once negotiations resumed on Tuesday.
Below is the full letter from SAG members released Thursday.
To the SAG-AFTRA Negotiating Committee:
Last June, before we went on strike, a large group of members signed an open letter telling our leaders that we would rather go on strike than accept a bad deal.
Now, more than 100 days after our strike, this remains true. As difficult as this is, we would rather stay on strike than accept a bad deal.
We haven’t made it all the way to the cave now. We didn’t quit our job, without pay, nor did we march on picket lines for months just to give up everything we were fighting for. We cannot and will not accept a contract that fails to address the vital, existential problems we all need to fix.
In any union, there will always be a minority who are unwilling to make temporary sacrifices for the common good. But we, the majority who voted overwhelmingly to authorize this strike, still stand in solidarity, ready to strike no matter what it takes, and to endure whatever we must in order to win an agreement worthy of our collective sacrifices. We know that our union leaders are doing everything they can to achieve this goal and are negotiating in good faith with companies to reach a new contract that will protect us and our fellow artists, now and for generations to come.
Everything we have as a union – every minimum pay, health and pension benefits, residuals, royalties, workplace protections – has all been won on the strength of our members; The power of our solidarity; The power of standing together to demand what is right, what is just, and what we deserve. You have our trust, support and strength behind you now.
One day longer. One day stronger. As long as it takes.“
Abid Rahman contributed to this report.
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