The union representing actors and television and radio performers unanimously approved recently negotiated contracts regarding commercial work today.
The national board of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists approved a deal reached on April 3 in New York after negotiations with the advertising industry. The board voted before concluding its two-day meeting at SAG-AFTRA Plaza on Wilshire Boulevard.
Details of the contract were not released, and deal still must be submitted to the union’s 1,600 members for ratification.
"This contract speaks to the livelihood of members today — and in the future," SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Carteris said.
On Saturday, Carteris was voted the new president of SAG-AFTRA, marking the first time in the organization’s history that it will be represented by three women as its top union officers.
Carteris was elected president by acclamation by the national board. Also voted into office Saturday was Rebecca Damon, who will serve as executive vice president; Jane Austin was elected secretary-treasurer last year.
Carteris is filling a seat last held by the late Ken Howard. Her successor died on March 23, before he could finish his two-year term that started on Aug. 20, 2015.
"I am deeply honored to be chosen by the SAG-AFTRA National Board to serve the union and its members as president," Carteris said. "Ken was a great union leader, friend and mentor. He left big shoes to fill, but with the support of the national board of directors and the membership, I am committed to improving the lives of all SAG-AFTRA members."
Carteris was previously elected to her first term as executive vice president at the inaugural SAG-AFTRA Convention in 2013 and reelected at the convention in 2015. A working actress, she recently had a recurring role on the primetime series "Code Black," and formerly hosted her own talk show, "Gabrielle." She’s best known for playing the role of Andrea Zuckerman on "Beverly Hills, 90210."
Damon is a working actress and voiceover performer as well as a SAG- AFTRA National Board member. She is a SAG-AFTRA Foundation Board Member and a founding member of the President’s Forum for One Union and G1. She also is the chair of the Government Review Committee and MOVE NY Committee and serves on the Executive, Finance and Government Affairs and Public Policy committees. She sits on the President’s Task Force on Education, Outreach and Engagement and is the chair of the MORE Committee, advocating for education and empowerment for performers around the world. Damon also is a former Screen Actors Guild New York Division Vice President.
