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Martin Sheen announces support for Membership First in their fight to save SAG’s union democracy

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To my S.A.G. brothers and sisters:

Please read this letter from Martin Sheen, proud Screen Actors Guild member for 45 years.

In Solidarity;
JoBeth Williams

—

To my fellow actors:

If you’re one of the tens of thousands of S.A.G. members who don’t work enough or earn enough as an actor, you’re in danger of losing one of your fundamental rights as a union member. Unless you take the time, right now, to go get your S.A.G. ballot and re-elect MembershipFirst, you could lose your right to vote.

A slate of actors has emerged calling themselves “Unite For Strength”, with an overwhelming majority of their candidates determined to implement “Qualified” or “Affected” voting on all future S.A.G. contracts. Regardless of what they are claiming TODAY, if this group gains control of S.A.G.’s national board, they will start the “qualified/affected” voting policy in motion. Since February 2008, they have dedicated their energies in collecting signatures for their “Qualified Voting Petition.” They’ve proudly and publicly touted their list of supporters, including the names of very high profile actor/ producers. They and their supporters have signed a petition that would end democracy in the Screen Actors Guild and create a ‘class system’ between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’.

The AMPTP, ( the group that represents our largest employers/ producers) have publicly endorsed “Qualified Voting”. In their opinion, too many actors are voting on S.A.G. contracts. Clearly the AMPTP has something to gain if fewer members are allowed to vote: The potential of all contracts, no matter how weak, being ratified by a greatly diminished voting pool.

Many of the actors who signed the “qualified/affected” voting petition are themselves producers with very successful production companies. That’s clearly a conflict of interest.

It is safe to assume that strong and determined unionists like Crystal Lee Sutton, (the real ‘Norma Rae’) would never support “Qualified”/”Affected” voting. She would know that any proposed plan to disqualify a member’s right to vote would weaken the power of a union and its members. With regard to the Screen Actors Guild, the “qualified/affected” voting proposal, proudly advocated by “Unite For Strength” and their supporters, would deny 75% of S.A.G.’s membership the right to vote on our most important contracts. Those who will be most impacted by ‘affected’ voting are the same S.A.G. members who are having the hardest time getting hired- namely performers of color, seniors, performers with disabilities and woman over the age of 35. I firmly believe that the real ‘Norma Rae’ would never support any policy as divisive, as elitist and as discriminatory as “qualified/ affected” voting. I’m confident that she, nor any other strong union activists like her, would ever support the inherent divisiveness of positions “Unite For Strength” advocates.

The proposed “qualified/affected” voting plan goes against not only the very essence of “unionism”, but it is also based on a false premise.

There is absolutely NO evidence that struggling actors vote any differently than those who are LUCKY enough to work consistently, particularly when it comes to contracts.

MembershipFirst is, and has always been, against “qualified” or “affected” voting. That’s one of the reasons why they have my complete support. They have consistently fought for all actors, regardless of earning levels. From A-Lister to up and comers, MembershipFirst has and will continue to keep their eyes on the prize and work diligently for all of the members of the greatest talent union in the world.

Please join me in voting for the entire MembershipFirst slate as listed below.

In solidarity,

Martin Sheen

Membership First Slate

Lainie Kazan #4
Steven Barr #39
F.J. O’Neil #70
Clancy Brown #11
Joe Bologna #44
Ron Harper #71
Tom Bower #13
Peter Van Norden #46
William Russ #72
Joe d’Angerio #14
Anthony Desantis #47
Jeff Austin #73
Russell McConnell #21
Vic Polizos #50
Scott Bakula #74
Christopher Wiehl #26
Joely Fisher #56
Michael Bell #76
Peggy Miley #26
Yale Summers #59
Chas. Malik Whitfield #77
David Jolliffe #30
Paul Napier #63
Scott Wilson #78
Warren Berlinger #31
Renee Aubry #64
Keith Carradine #79
Eugene Boggs #32
France Nuyen #68
Alan Ruck #81
Charles Shaughnessy #35
Jane Austin #69
JoBeth Williams #82

No SAG Funds Used

“CeCe” video: First the Weatherman from Peoria. Now a “designing” member from Nashville who has designs on turning actors jobs over to AFTRA. Read one of the recent motions to Doug and Alan.

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The ballots for AFTRA’s Exhibit A are due in today. Whatever, the results, it cannot be denied that many of those voting in a contract that will have a decisive effect on actors futures, will be weathermen, disc jockeys, and others who have never worked as actors in their lives.

In the meantime, SAG NED Allan, and SAG President Rosenberg, are being deluged from various SAG branches with pro-AFTRA motions condemning them for campaigning to get dual-card holders to vote NO on a contract that sells out their futures.

There can be no doubt that most of these SAG branches are dominated by AFTRA Operatives in SAG clothing. The following missive from the Nashville branch signed by SAG “Nashville” VP CeCe Dubois is a prime example.

To Doug Allen and Alan Rosenberg

Advisory Motion from Members of

Screen Actors Guild Nashville Branch Council

Whereas the Nashville Branch of Screen Actors Guild, which encompasses members across the states of Tennessee and Kentucky, take pride on our union affiliations, and

Whereas we define “union” as Webster does: a coming together, an amalgamation, a merger; and

Whereas we believe that an attack on one of our performer unions is an attack on all union performers everywhere; and

Whereas in the history of union activism no performer union has ever gone so far as to assign funds and employ members, trade advertisements and articles, phone-banking, rallies, mailings and staff time spreading misleading information and misstatements in a focused attack on the pending contract of a sister union; and

Whereas we believe the spending of untold thousands of dollars in member dues money to damage our sister union is an immoral, shameful and an illegal act; and

Whereas it has become patently clear that the current leadership is dedicated to its pursuit of a course which will lead to irreparable harm to the union we cherish so highly; and

Whereas we believe our efforts to rebuild a union presence in this right-to-work state are being undermined by the highly publicized conduct of our national leadership; and

Whereas the commercials negotiations are set for fall, 2008, and require participation of both AFTRA and SAG negotiating committee members; and

Whereas in said negotiations we will be faced with the same situation creating even more damage and destruction to our guild, unless strong and clear efforts to repair what has been damaged are taken NOW;

Therefore be it resolved that we, the members of the Nashville Branch Council of Screen Actors Guild,

call on President Alan Rosenberg and NED Doug Allen to immediately cease and desist in their efforts against AFTRA;

Be it further resolved that President Alan Rosenberg and NED Doug Allen offer a full and public apology to AFTRA and the industry at large for SAG’s

deleterious actions; that admission should include the following: A clear and full apology and affirmation of an unconditional and binding pledge that under their leadership SAG will never again attempt to violate the terms or spirit of Phase One; Will never again attempt to interfere with the internal workings of a sister union;

Also

A commitment to pursue the accomplishment of merger within the next year.

Respectfully submitted,

Members of the Nashville Branch Council, Screen Actors Guild

Cece DuBois

—

In support of my allegation that most of these people are AFTRA Operatives in SAG clothing, one other tidbit not apparent in the above motion, Ms. Dubois is not only SAG’s Nashville Vice President, but she is also AFTRA’s Nashville PRESIDENT.

Oh, and she has never worked under the contract she is promoting. She has NO IMDb acting credits. But, then neither did AFTRA’s Head negotiator on this contract AFTRA National President, Roberta Reardon.

As I did with Ms. Reardon, I spent a lot of time on Goggle trying to find where CeCe had worked in the entertainment business, and the only thing I could come up with is the following.

To further highlight the fact that Ms. Dubois does not know what she is talking about in regards to the current referendum, watch the following video, in which she urges other members to vote for the AFTRA contract, ah, watch and see if you can spot the proof that she is clueless when it comes to the Exhibit A contract. (Click following link)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=zhr3fbaELfw

Ah, perhaps someone should have informed our ardent designer that it ain’t AFTRA’s Class “A” contract but rather Exhibit “A” contract that is being voted on.

Oh, well what does she know, she is only a local SAG VP, and AFTRA President.

Unfortunately, there are many like Ms. Dubois, who have never worked a SAG/AFTRA acting contract, who have designs on taking over our union and turning it over to AFTRA.

As, soon has we get the results of this referendum, we’ll get them up on the Ol’ Website.

Watchdog Exclusive: A Chilling Letter to an AFTRA Board Member from AFTRA. And a Revealing video on how your Peoria Weatherman voted on AFTRA’s Exhibit A contract affecting actors. !

Although these negotiations are about actors’ future ability to make a living, especially in light of the fact, the method of delivery for employer’s product in the coming few years will most likely be the Internet. More, importantly, however, and mostly overlooked by most pundits, is the fact, that what truly is at stake here for actors is who will represent them in our new century.

On one side we have the Screen Actors Guild with its 75-year history of protecting actors, and being a thorn in the side of employers in order to get actors a fair deal.

On the other side, we have The American Federation of Radio and Television Artists with a history of representing radio actors, few and far between these days, actors who participate in television broadcasts done in a live manner, and a series of broadcasters including talk show hosts, news anchors, reporters, commentators, correspondents along with weathermen, and disc jockeys.

Until this decade, AFTRA leadership pretty much stayed on their own-turf. But, then, after they sold out actors for a half-a-million dollars to the ATA/NATR agents, giving them owner ship in productions, things changed dramatically.

Where as, AFTRA had limited its jurisdiction to game, variety, and kiddy shows on Nickelodeon, things changed dramatically, a few years back, when they began going after shows under SAG’s jurisdiction–that is, shows that were not done the manner of a live broadcast.

Most of these were scripted dramatic basic cable shows. A couple of years ago, AFTRA had only ONE of these shows.

And then they started offering companies like Disney, Lifetime, FX, TNT etc”deals” including inferior minimums and residual giveaways, in order to under cut the SAG rates already in place, and gain jurisdiction.

It worked. Now AFTRA has all but one of the basic cable half-hour dramatic shows and is edging up to an equal share of the hour-long dramatic shows.

But, now, AFTRA, agents, and producers have their eyes on an even bigger prize; Primetime Network Television.

Producers, of course, would prefer to negotiate with a compliant, multi-service union like AFTRA where actors’ demands can be subjugated by broadcasters and others whose only interests are to keep the wheels turning to pump money into their pension and health plans. This is borne out by AFTRA’s recent flyer to broadcasters urging them to vote in the current actors referendum, even if they have never worked the contract.

Agents, who have empowered the AFTRA Leadership, also, have a self-interest in shows going to AFTRA, because they will have ownership, and a revenue stream not available through the less complaint Screen Actors Guild.

So, the truly relevant issue in this time of peril for actors, is will they be sacrificed to the interests of agents, employers, and AFTRA, whose primary loyalty is to the organization controlled by the staffor will they be represented by a union with a proud 75 year history of looking out for actors. Will they be represented by AFTRA where their needs will be sacrificed for the expediency of their hodge-podge membership, or will they still be under the jurisdiction of the Screen Actors Guild whose only interest is providing the best possible deal for their actor members.

Don’t kid yourself, folks, if this AFTRA “Deal” with all its giveaways is passed, our employers will see it as a validation of AFTRA’s “go-along-to-get-along” attitudeand you’ll be seeing more and more shows go to AFTRA, and less and less residuals, and benefits coming to actors.

But, dollars are not the only things at stake here. Also, at stake, is democracy; the ability to vote in referendums and then be able to verify the results. The right of your elected representative to watch over hired staff to make sure everything they do is above board. And the right to see the contracts you work under, before you work under them, or audition for them.

As you will see in the following shocking letter from AFTRA to a new AFTRA board member, and friend of all actors who want a democratic union, Steve Barr, that will not be the case under AFTRA’s despotic leadership, where only three people out of a 59,000 membership have actually seen the results of AFTRA’s last Network Code referendum.

Here is the letter responding to Mr. Barr’s request for various pieces of information relating to his constituency.



I must say when I read this letter, it sent a chill through me, with all its legalize double talk designed to block a duly elected AFTRA director from getting information necessary to keep his constituency, both, informed and protected. To think that hired staff could so summarily reject all of his request is mind-boggling. To think that this is the kind of mentality that soon may, very well, be over most actors, is scary.

But, then, most actors will not find out until it’s too late, and that is indeed sad.

A.L. Miller SW Editor & Chief WOOF !

*The names at the bottom of the AFTRA letter both from its author and those cc’d and bcc’d were redacted at the request of Mr. Barr, who stated that he wanted the spotlight to be on AFTRA’s policies, rather than personalities.

** Something very revealing in this letter is the fact that AFTRA has TWO PR firms. One of which is 42 West, which represents both AFTRA, and AFTRA number one supporter, Producer Tom Hanks, who has ten productions currently on the table…gosh, I wonder why, he wants this thing settled as quickly as possible and at the lowest rates possible? *

Oh, and I, also wonder, who that other PR firm is. Well, Mr. Barr mostly likely will not find out in his capacity of board member, so perhaps, some other investigative soul will come up with the answer.
*

Oh, and a special message from your weatherman in Peoria.

TARGET=”_blank”> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVm7eOpgQHw

SAG names Frank CFO!

Posted: Thurs., Jan. 8, 2004, 4:29pm PT

Org taps studio vet chief financial officer

By CLAUDE BRODESSER Variety Magazine

The Screen Actors Guild has hired Peter C. Frank as deputy national executive director for administration and chief financial officer. He reports directly to executive director and chief exec A. Robert Pisano.

The guild had been without a CFO since November, when Francesca Hickson departed the union after a two-year stint, saying the “infighting, politics and personal agendas” of SAG’s national board had made her stay intolerable.

A vet of studios and technology companies, Frank will be responsible for the guild’s financial, accounting and treasury functions as well as all administration, including human resources and member records. He will also develop financial forecasts and investment strategies. Building on improved financial systems implemented at SAG last year, Frank will continue enhancing the guild’s fiscal operations and streamlining systems and processes.

Pisano called Frank “an outstanding addition to our management team” and praised his “impressive financial expertise and credentials, especially his experience in both the entertainment and technology areas.”

“My goal,” Frank said, “is to make Screen Actors Guild the strongest and most efficient organization possible.”

Frank was most recently the chief financial officer at EnCompass Knowledge Systems, a privately held software company in Los Angeles. Frank was one of the architects of the company’s new business model and led efforts to raise investment capital. Prior to EnCompass, Frank was the CFO at Web-based people locator USSearch.com.

Frank also possesses extensive entertainment industry experience, serving as chief financial officer at Gramercy Pictures from 1996-99; as VP, finance and administration, at 20th Century Fox from 1994-96; and as head of corporate advisory at Fox Inc. from 1989-94. Frank has also held seats on the boards of directors of several new-media and technology companies.

—-

We here at the Ol’ SAG Watchdog want to welcome Mr. Frank aboard and wish him luck in making the “Screen Actors Guild the strongest and most efficient organization possible.” We will continue our effort to make it the most democratic possible. Hey, strong, efficient and democratic now there’s a nice combination.

A.L. Miller SW Editor & Chief WOOF !

Adam 12! A life saving call!

1088578900 64.163.244.225

Here at the SAG Watchdog, we got the following e-mail from Kent McCord, and we figured we’d pass it along.

Subject: S.A.G. annual blood drive on July 16th from 10 am to 4 pm.
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 12:14:32 -0700

This going up on my web site therefore the Adam-12 reference.

To Everyone,

The Union-Tribune story below gives you the reason for this post. In addition to the two drives mentioned, there will also be one at the Screen Actors Guild in conjunction with their annual blood drive on July 16th from 10 am to 4 pm. Potential donors can either walk in or schedule an appointment online at blooddrive@sag.org or call (323) 549-6490 (This # will be operational on July 1st).

The address is:

Screen Actors Guild
5757 Wilshire Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90036
1st Floor- James Cagney Boardroom

To all of you who have followed and supported “Adam-12”, this is a plea to get the word out to as many people as possible. For anyone who wants to help, it is important to know that you can do so by contacting the local blood bank in your area and finding out if they offer the test to determine if you’re a potential match. You can also log on to marrow.org for more information. Amy’s code on the national donor registry is AM 05. That is AM zero 5. Everyone thanks you for your help and involvement.

Click on marrow.org

Sincerely,
Kent

UNION-TRIBUNE

June 24, 2004

An urgent plea is going out for bone marrow donors in hopes of finding a match for Amy Milner of Encinitas, the 45-year-old daughter of actor Martin Milner.

A single mom with an 11-year-old son, Amy operates Cini Design, a store in Solana Beach’s Cedros design district. She was diagnosed with acute leukemia about 1 years ago and is in desperate need of a bone marrow transplant. But the search for a match among family members and on the national donor registry has been fruitless. With Amy now hospitalized in very serious condition, family and friends are scheduling two local marrow donor and blood drives at the First United Methodist Church in Mission Valley on July 19 and at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad on July 26 (both from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.).

Milner, a North County resident, starred in the popular TV series “Route 66” in the 1960s and “Adam 12” in the late ’60s and early ’70s. An avid fisherman, he now co-hosts a weekend radio show, “Let’s Talk Hook-Up.”

Hollywood actor Kent McCord, Milner’s sidekick as a cop on Adam 12, has agreed to spearhead a drive in L.A. through the Screen Actors Guild. Milner says finding a match for his daughter is his top priority. “But even if we don’t find a match for Amy at these particular drives, the people who join the bone marrow registry could potentially save someone else’s life and that’s important.”

Bone marrow testing can be done from two small vials of blood. If matching characteristics are found, the prospective donor is asked back for further tests, says Mary Walter-Brown of the S.D. Blood Bank (www.sandiegobloodbank.org).

San Diego Blood Bank To Host Two Blood And Bone Marrow Drives On Behalf Of

Encinitas Mother In Desperate Need Of Matching Donor

Posted: Thursday, June 24, 2004

The San Diego Blood Bank will host two blood and bone marrow drives on behalf of 46-year-old Amy Milner, the daughter of actor Martin Milner of “Adam 12” and “Route 66” fame. Amy is battling acute leukemia and doctors say her only chance for a cure is a bone marrow transplant. She is currently undergoing intense chemotherapy and requires blood transfusions as part of her treatment.

Two blood and bone marrow testing drives have been scheduled on Amy’s behalf. The first will take place at the First United Methodist Church, 2111 Camino Del Rio South, Mission Valley, on Monday, July 19, from 2 – 7pm. A second drive will be held the following Monday, July 26, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church in Carlsbad, 6628 Santa Isabel Street, from 2 – 7pm.

“Finding a matching bone marrow donor for our daughter is my top priority,” said Milner. “But, even if we don’t find a match for Amy at these particular drives, the people who join the bone marrow registry could potentially save someone else’s lifeand that’s important.”

Blood donations are being accepted on Amy’s behalf at any San Diego Blood Bank donor center (addresses listed below). Please specify patient code AM05 before donating.

Anyone between the ages of 18 and 60, who is in good health, may be eligible to join the National Marrow Donor Program registry as a volunteer donor. The blood test to join the registry involves a very small blood sample and just a few minutes.

For more information about the Milner family, please call Linda Gentile at 760-533-0730. To schedule an appointment to donate blood or for more details on joining the National Marrow Donor Program registry, please call 1-800-4MY-SDBB or send us a message.

[ DONOR REQUIREMENTS ] [ SCHEDULE A BLOOD DRIVE ]

SAN DIEGO BLOOD BANK

440 Upas St.
San Diego, CA 92103
(619) 296-6393
Monday – Thursday, 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Friday & Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday

EAST COUNTY DONOR CENTER
680 Fletcher Parkway
El Cajon, CA 92020
(619) 441-1804
Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday

NORTH COUNTY DONOR CENTER
1340 West Valley Parkway
Escondido, CA 92029
(760) 489-0621
Tuesday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday

NORTH COASTAL DONOR CENTER
161 Thunder Drive
Vista, CA 92083
(760) 945-1906
Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Wednesday, 12:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday

SOUTH BAY DONOR CENTER
Founded by SDG&E
1717 Sweetwater Rd., Suite G
National City, CA 91950
(619) 336-4090
Tuesday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday, Saturday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Closed Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday

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