USAN takes our commitment to the membership seriously.

        It is impossible to achieve so much without the diverse skill set of our leadership. We come from all walks of life and all levels of career. Our differences challenge us to come together to energize, synergize and maximize the value of SAG/NY for the membership.

Here are just some of what USAN’s Leadership has delivered:

• A new TV/Theatrical contract - solid gains in residuals, pay & benefits, ratified by 86% of the NY membership.
• A new Commercials Contract, negotiated jointly with AFTRA, which 94% of members approved, nationally.
• A new Basic Cable Contract, approved by 95% of the Board and sent to you for ratification.
• NY State and City film production tax credits - thousands of jobs added.
• NY State COBRA extension bill - so you can keep your Guild health insurance.
• A new Chief Executive and a new Chief Negotiator, who are knowledgeable, experienced, and respected throughout the industry.
• A new financial plan, with important steps to address SAG’s risky budget shortfall.

USAN is dedicate to bringing everyone who works in front of a
camera, or a microphone into one strong, powerful union.

CAREER ADVANCEMENT 

       USAN recognizes the struggles of being an actor. It’s what continues to motivate us to work for the membership. Below are committees and programs that speak to our commitment to work toward the empowerment and ultimately the employment of every performer possible.

• “MORE” SEMINARS - The Member Outreach, Relations & Education (MORE) Committee is exclusive to NY. Its mission statement: A knowledgeable and self empowered actor makes a better SAG member. Its standing room only “Business of the Biz” seminars USAN created programs like “Finding and Making Your Own Work,” “Setting Goals and Following Through,” “Looking for Representation, Maintaining and Developing Good Business Relationships.” These seminars have helped members focus their energies on what they CAN do to set and meet their career goals. Guest speakers share their successes and failures in these endeavors so that members can develop and implement a career plan that makes sense to the individual performer.
• “MOVE” Seminars- Member Organizing Volunteer Efforts (MOVE) Committee - USAN reinvigorated this committee to bring additional SRO sell out seminars like “Working in Commercials” “Working in Episodic TV” and “Working in Industrials” to educate members on the ins and outs of the contracts employed in work in these areas. Volunteer speakers give their anecdotal experiences of the practical application of the contracts in these not to be missed evenings.
• CASTING LOTTERY - This event brought 9 commercial casting directors and one commercial agent into the Guild along with 100 lucky members. Each of the 100 NY members had the option of doing a monologue, reading commercial copy (provided for them) or being interviewed.  Wildly successful for both members and casting directors, many were called in for subsequent auditions. Excellent feedback from both members and casting directors warrants another event to be held in the near future.  Stay tuned!
• ROUNDTABLES - Provides an opportunity to more fully flesh out the topic of seminars to be offered to the membership. It’s a great way for members and elected to connect and network with each other and share ideas. It’s the “give and take” of these meetings that are the engine for the success of the MORE and MOVE seminar series.
• EXPANDED CONSERVATORY SPACE - The new and improved space returns the space to its original status as the premiere studio in the city (and biggest bang for the buck!) for an actor to practice on camera technique. If you haven’t yet, sign up and see what the Conservatory has to offer!
• LGBT A PREMIERE SPONSOR FOR NEWFEST- Newfest is a film festival supporting full-length features as well as shorts with LGBT themes. The SAG LGBT Committee sponsored a Panel Discussion that was a huge success, exploring issues such as casting, homophobia (or not), and how actors are portrayed within the industry and film.
• SENIORS COMMITTEE - The newly energized Seniors Committee developed a project that would reveal its members as a vital part of the Guild. A budget was developed and approved. A shooting schedule was drafted and a director was hired. The completed video successfully addresses the issue of “who” Seniors really are and the value they bring to any production. Look for more ideas coming from this committee as they are out to prove to the world they can still cut it…and then some!
• NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION - The MORE Committee re-instituted and revitalized this offering to the membership. This wonderful, welcoming seminar explains not only a brief history of the Guild, but also the perks and advantages the Guild has to offer - many long standing members might not even know! To best accommodate the membership, this is offered in both afternoon and evening sessions.
• OUTREACH PROGRAM - NY is first Division to develop and implement ongoing outreach to colleges and acting studios providing members and aspiring members a better understanding of what holding a SAG card means along with your rights and responsibilities as a member.
• NY HOST COMMITTEE - Your USAN leadership created this committee specifically to “give back” to the members. After the successful, entertaining and moving SAG 75th Anniversary party, we brought you the first-ever Holiday Open House last December, and plan to have more social events, as well as making traditional events such as the Labor Day Parade more fun!  The Screen Actors Guild was recognized by the International Labor Communicators Association with the Third Award for Multi-media Campaigns for the 75th Anniversary multi-media campaign.  NY could not be more proud.
• ADDITIONAL STAFF HIRED IN NY TO ADDRESS MEMBER ISSUES AND CLAIMS - USAN pushed hard to replace staff positions lost during restructuring. USAN recognizes that SAG is a service driven organization and while we strive for fiscal responsibility this must work in tandem with the Guild’s core mission of service to its members.

SAFETY NETS

USAN is always looking for ways to develop new safety nets for performers, and actively works to get the best most up to date information out to the membership.

• NEW P&H QUALIFICATION CATEGORY - qualifying for health insurance if you are a member 40 years of age or over, vested for at least 10 years and have earned $10,000. Addresses the inequity of the business as actors’ age.
• P&H QUALIFICATION BASED ON NUMBER OF DAYS WORKED - Currently at 74, this earned eligibility level addresses the realities of qualifying for insurance as a background performer.
• HEALTH FAIR & HEALTH INSURANCE FOR ACTORS SEMINARS - These events are designed to inform members about the Plan and all “safety-net” options available to them should they fall out of health care qualifications. Representatives from the Actors Fund and area hospitals and clinics participated to make these events successful.
• ACTORS AND UNEMPLOYMENT - A seminar educating members on the ins and outs of collecting unemployment benefits from filling out the form to cashing the check. Volunteers discuss their real-life stories and offer advice based on questions. The New York State Department of Labor representatives have taken back actor feedback and made policy changes based on your input.

 WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT

USAN saw the writing on the wall 9 years ago - one of the many ways to improve the quality of life for the membership is through the City and State government. Our Legislative Committee hit the ground running. Here are just a few of our success stories!

• LOBBYIST HIRED- When USAN realized SAG/NY needed a presence at the local and state table to push our agenda forward, we hired a lobbyist to intervene on behalf of the membership. This guaranteed SAG/NY’s voice was heard on all legislation concerning the lives of New York performers. The achievements from this hire just keep on coming!
• COBRA SUBSIDY PROGRAM- USAN’s first big win - spearheaded and worked with industry unions to procure the COBRA subsidy program helping performers with COBRA payments should they fall out of earned coverage.
• TAX INCENTIVES HIT NY- Originally a 15% tax break for productions shot in and around New York City boosts employment for performers.
• TAX INCENTIVES IMPROVED THIS YEAR! - Incentives jump to a 35% tax break (now including commercial shoots!!) USAN anticipates even more work for New York City performers.
• CHILD PERFORMERS EDUCATION AND TRUST ACT OF 2003- NY’S version of the LA COOGAN LAW - This law provides safeguards for a child’s wages and ensures education standards of children working in New York City entertainment industry.

COMMUNICATIONS

USAN believes in a transparent union that communicates honestly with its membership even when the message may not be a popular one. USAN has made every effort to directly communicate to its NY Members without the usual “national” spin. Unfortunately, the new policy at the Guild forces the NY Division to run everything by national for “approval” resulting in the censorship of several letters to the membership from the NY President (which you can access on this site). Be that as it may, we remain proud to have worked to address the issues of direct communication with the NY membership.

• SAGAZINE- USAN leadership was the first to institute and set the bar with the NY Division’s bi-monthly electronic magazine instituted when the Board cut out all divisional communications due to budget constraints. While never as good as putting a piece of mail directly into a members’ hands, SAGazine was a terrific solution to completely eliminating direct communication to the divisional members by its leadership. In the process, we were able to secure 4 pages in the national publication, “The Screen Actor” devoted only to NY issues so that those members without email were still reached.
• RETURN OF THE NY ACTOR!!- In response to member concerns that SAGazine only reaches those with computer access, USAN worked hard within the budgetary constraints presented, to come up with enough money to print, as cost effectively as possible, the NY Actor. There is a dedicated email address within the publication that ensures member concerns reach leadership. This magazine printed on 100% recycled paper.
• E-BLASTS - as needed - to inform the membership of breaking news and events to the extent that “national” approves the information. 
• SCREEN ACTOR - The Screen Actors Guild has been recognized for communications excellence by the International Labor Communicators Association.  SAG won the First Award for International/National Publications - Magazine category.

For nine years USAN has been focused on fighting for better contracts in TV, film and commercials so that performers can make a living. USAN recognized that working with the City and State governments was yet another way to expand members’ job opportunities and provide you with more tools to help you book work. We are proud to point out that we have energized old committees and have created new ones in order to bring to the membership every opportunity we can think of to advance all our careers.

Filed under: Statements