It’s not about politics—IT’S ABOUT YOUR PAYCHECK.

Don’t be SUCKERED into a STRIKE.

AFTRA members have been subjected to an unprecedented attack from a group within our sister union. AFTRA’s 70,000 members have been targeted by a politically-motivated disinformation campaign, financed with the dues money of SAG members, based on a decision made by 13 members within the Guild’s leadership.

This misguided campaign is designed to confuse members into voting against their best interests—and AFTRA has been working to counter these attacks, correct falsehoods, and educate members about the merits of the deal. But AFTRA members are smart, and can understand the facts when given them.

Your AFTRA Primetime TV contract ballot information clearly says:

A “YES” vote is to approve the package as recommended by the AFTRA National Board.

A “NO” vote is to reject the recommended package and simultaneously authorize the AFTRA National Board to call a strike at a time to be determined by the Board.

A “No” vote means what it says it means—a vote to authorize a strike. Don’t be fooled.

The new primetime television contract is a solid deal that achieves gains for every category of performer and puts real money in actor’s wallets. Read the facts in your ballot material: the new contract contains real, in-hand increases in your pay and benefits. It’s not about politics—it’s about your paycheck.

Some people claim that a strike won’t be necessary to improve on the solid gains AFTRA has already achieved in the new contract before you. Some people also claim that you can vote down the AFTRA contract and just “ask for more” without backing it up with a strike. They are not telling the truth. The increases in pay AFTRA negotiated in 2008 are higher than the two unions achieved together in 2005. Don’t be fooled.

Some people claim that if you vote down the new AFTRA contract, joint bargaining will miraculously resume. It will not. Don’t be fooled.

For more than year now, SAG’s Hollywood leadership has bombarded dual AFTRA-SAG cardholders—and the entire industry—with misstatements, distortions, and outright lies, consistently inventing and twisting the facts in a politically-motivated effort to lead us all on a path to Neverland. The entire industry is now paying the price for it. Don’t be fooled.

AFTRA members don’t believe in fairytales. That’s why the AFTRA Primetime Negotiating Committee put real money into your pockets, not fairy dust in your eyes.

The recent writers’ strike cost entertainment-industry workers $2.3 billion and led to the loss of nearly 40,000 jobs. Most of us have still not completely recovered from that struggle and are concerned about the national economy heading into a recession. Now is NOT the time to play politics with people’s livelihoods. It’s time to put more money in your paycheck.

If you want to protect actors’ negotiated pay and benefits, vote YES to ratify the new AFTRA Primetime TV contract.

When AFTRA members read the FACTS, you will see that it's not about politics—voting YES is a vote for your paycheck and your jobs.

www.aftra.com