News

January 30, 2012	AFTRA Members Ratify Sound Recordings Contract AFTRA members who work in Sound Recordings have ratified a successor agreement to the AFTRA National Code of Fair Practice for Sound Recordings. Voting by phone or Internet closed Jan. 30, with affected members voting close to 99% in favor of approving the Sound Recordings Code. The ratification is...
January 28, 2012	AFTRA National Board of Directors Approves Merger Package with SAG LOS ANGELES (Jan. 28, 2012) – The National Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 actors, broadcasters, singers, dancers, recording artist and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including...
January 25, 2012	Goldberg, Klein and Flanagan to Present 2012 AMEE Awards LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK --- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – today announced award presenters for the AFTRA Foundation’s 2012 AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Awards...
January 20, 2012	Joint Statement from AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, IBT and SAG Regarding the PROTECT IP Act (S. 968) and the STOP Online Piracy Act (HR 3261) The following statement was issued by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its...
January 16, 2012	American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild Reach Agreement on Merger Package for Recommendations to SAG and AFTRA National Board of Directors The AFTRA and SAG Group for One Union (G1) met for nine days in Los Angeles to continue the process of creating a successor union to SAG and AFTRA. After productive discussions and reaching consensus, a Merger Package was approved by the G1 to send to the respective boards of AFTRA and SAG for approval....
January 12, 2012	Tri-Union Summit Brings Together Performers With Disabilities and Industry Executives Los Angeles and New York City (Jan. 12, 2012) — I AM PWD, a tri-union partnership to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities in the media, marked the end of its three-year campaign Wednesday, January 11 with a bi-coastal industry summit held via videoconference. "Disability IS Diversity:...
January 11, 2012	LAST CHANCE! Buy your tickets to the AMEES today! TICKET SALES END ON JAN. 31! Purchase yours today! Click here for more information.
January 6, 2012	Music Video Performers Tell Major Record Labels ‘It’s About Time’ Three-city action highlights the need for fair contracts Flash mob of professional dancers highlights Beverly Hills event LOS ANGELES (Jan. 6, 2012) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists – a national union of more than 70,000 dancers, recording artists, broadcasters, actors,...
January 5, 2012	AFTRA Sound Recordings Agreement Sent to Members for Approval LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK (Jan. 5, 2012) – The National Administrative Committee of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media...
December 15, 2011	We Remember Dobie Gray Dobie Gray was a 50-year AFTRA member, joining in 1961. Born Leonard Victor Ainsworth, he was an equally well-versed vocalist in Pop, R&B and Country, and is best known for his 1973 worldwide hit “Drift Away.” Born in Texas, Gray moved to Los Angeles in the early 1960s. It was there that he met...
December 15, 2011	We Remember Rich Holter Twin Cities AFTRA member Rich Holter died Nov. 30 at the age of 72. Holter had an impressive career in broadcast that spanned more than three decades in the upper Midwest. He was an award-winning broadcast journalist at AFTRA-station WCCO-AM where he served as the AFTRA shop steward and chief negotiator....
December 15, 2011	AFTRA Reaches Tentative Agreement with Record Labels on Sound Recordings Contract LOS ANGELES (Dec. 15, 2011) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including television, radio, cable, sound...
December 11, 2011	AFTRA Members Reach Tentative Agreement on Network Television Code LOS ANGELES (Dec. 9, 2011) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – today announced that AFTRA members have reached a tentative agreement with the four major television broadcast...
December 7, 2011	AFTRA Hosts Panel to Discuss Impact of Digital Theft at Los Angeles Event LOS ANGELES (Dec. 7, 2011) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – will be hosting an important panel discussion about digital theft, which costs the entertainment industry an...
November 21, 2011	AFTRA Members Featured at "GRAMMY Icons" On Thursday, Nov. 17, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO (AFTRA), the Beverly Hills/Hollywood Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and West Los Angeles College presented “GRAMMY Icons: Life, Before and After” at the College’s Campus Theater in...
November 18, 2011	We Salute AFTRA Member Regis Philbin The people who entertain and inform America proudly congratulate and wish AFTRA member Regis Philbin farewell, after hosting the AFTRA-covered television program “Live with Regis and Kelly” for an astounding 28 years. Philbin began his career in the 1950’s as a page for “The Tonight Show” before becoming...
November 17, 2011	Cash, Rashad and Fornatale to be Honored with 2012 AFTRA Foundation AMEE Awards LOS ANGELES (Nov. 17, 2011) --- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – today announced the recipients of the AFTRA Foundation’s 2012 AFTRA Media and Entertainment Excellence Awards (The...
November 11, 2011	“DWTS” Martinez Honored by AFTRA at Tri-Union Diversity Awards Actor and Veteran Receives Special Recognition by U.S. Army LOS ANGELES (Nov. 11, 2011) – Iraq War vet, “Dancing with the Stars” contestant and “All My Children” star J.R. Martinez was honored Monday, Nov. 7, in Los Angeles with the AFTRA Diversity Award at the 9th Annual Ivy Bethune Tri-Union...
November 10, 2011	First Amendment Expert Floyd Abrams Says 'Stop Online Piracy Act' Would Protect Creators of Speech Los Angeles (Nov. 10, 2011) – Leading First Amendment expert Floyd Abrams sent a letter this week to House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith and Ranking Member John Conyers reaffiming that the Stop Online Piracy Act currently under consideration in the House of Representatives in no way imperils the First...
November 4, 2011	AFTRA and WEEK/WHOI Going Back to the Bargaining Table Peoria, Ill. - The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO - a national union of more than 70,000 broadcast professionals, performers and recording artists - will be returning to the table to bargain with Granite Broadcasting, owners/operators of WEEK/WHOI. The news comes after a...
November 3, 2011	AFTRA Members to Commence Network Television Code Negotiations LOS ANGELES – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – today announced that negotiations with the four major television broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox) and other producers...
October 27, 2011	AFTRA and SAG Deplore Age Discrimination Facilitated by IMDb.com and Similar Online Databases Los Angeles (October 27, 2011) — An actor’s actual age is irrelevant to casting. What matters is the age range that an actor can portray. For the entire history of professional acting, this has been true but that reality has been upended by the development of IMDb as an industry standard used in casting offices...
October 27, 2011	AFTRA and AFM Alert Members to SiriusXM’s Anti-Artist Licensing Offer Los Angeles and New York (Oct. 27, 2011) — The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) alerted members of their respective unions about SiriusXM’s “direct license” deal, which would set up independent labels to pay a performer’s share to...
October 26, 2011	SoundExchange Contributes To Music Industry Growth With Highest Ever Quarterly Distribution “World’s Biggest” Sound Recording Performance Rights Organization Delivers $88 Million in Q3 to 18,300 Artists and Labels WASHINGTON, DC (Oct. 25, 2011) – SoundExchange announced it has distributed nearly $88 million to more than 18,300 recording artists and labels during the third quarter of 2011....
October 26, 2011	Joint Statement from AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, IBT and SAG Regarding STOP Online Piracy Act (HR 3261) Los Angeles, CA (Oct. 26, 2011) – American Federation of Musicians (AFM), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA), Directors Guild of America (DGA), International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts of the United States, Its Territories...
October 26, 2011	Actors' Equity, AFTRA & SAG Announce 2011 Tri-Union Diversity “Ivy” Award Recipients Los Angeles (Oct 26, 2011) — The affirmative action committees of American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Screen Actors Guild and Actors’ Equity Association are delighted to announce the 9th Annual Ivy Bethune Tri-Union Diversity Awards, honoring actor/educator Bill...
October 24, 2011	Go Union with Halloween Candy! It's easy to support union members at Halloween: buy Union, Made in America treats for the little ghosts and goblins who come knocking at your door. CLICK HERE for a list of products our friends at Union Plus have compiled that have our stamp of Union approval. While you're...
October 20, 2011	AFTRA Music Video Campaign Update AFTRA MEMBERS: SUPPORT AFTRA DANCERS IN GETTING A FAIR CONTRACT FOR MUSIC VIDEOS More than 160 dancers and choreographers gathered Monday night in Los Angeles at the North Hollywood Performing Arts Center for a special event co-hosted by AFTRA and Dancers’ Alliance to discuss plans to escalate a...
October 19, 2011	AFTRA and SAG Group for One Union Meets in Los Angeles LOS ANGELES (October 19, 2011) ---- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild convened for the third formal face-to-face discussions of the Group for One Union. Known as the G1, the group consists of members from the Screen Actors Guild Merger Task Force and the AFTRA New...
October 18, 2011	Creative America Launches Nationwide Campaign To Protect American Creativity & Jobs Los Angeles/New York — The creative community is coming together in a national effort to protect jobs and American creativity by fighting back against the online theft of TV shows and movies. Creative America, a grassroots coalition formed by labor unions, guilds, studios and networks, today announced a...
October 14, 2011	TV Commercials Survey Thank you for taking the time to participate in this Commercials Survey. AFTRA wants to learn more about non-union commercial casting calls in order to best serve our membership. This brief survey will take about five minutes to complete. All information provided is COMPLETELY ANONYMOUS and will be used to...
October 12, 2011	Spielberg, Hanks and Winfrey Star in First Lady's Joining Forces PSA Campaign The following is a press release issued by THE WHITE HOUSE Office of the First Lady Major TV Networks Commit to Broadcasting PSAs to Support Joining Forces Washington, D.C. - In response to First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden’s Joining Forces program, a national...
October 7, 2011	AFTRA Statement Regarding Sound Recordings Code Negotiations LOS ANGELES (Oct. 7, 2011) --- Today, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters and actors – released the following statement regarding the status of its Sound Recordings Code negotiations: “Despite more than...
October 6, 2011	Jewell of AFTRA Actor Geri Jewell was honored Thursday with the AFTRA Disability Awareness Award at the 2011 Media Access Awards breakfast at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. This annual event honors individuals in the entertainment and broadcast industries for their efforts in promoting the awareness of the disability...
October 1, 2011	AFTRA National Board of Directors Readies for Action in Sound Recordings and Network TV Negotiations LOS ANGELES AND NEW YORK (Oct. 1, 2011) — The National Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters and actors – met today by videoconference plenary in Los Angeles and New York, and unanimously...
September 28, 2011	Study Reveals Continued Lack of Characters with Disabilities on Television 1% Representation on Network TV Creates Few Employment Opportunities for Performers With Disabilities; Improvement Seen on Cable Networks Los Angeles — Coinciding with the start of National Disability Employment Awareness Month in October, a new study shows characters with a disability are virtually non-existent on scripted primetime network television shows, presenting a stark contrast to cable channels, which fare significantly better in this...
September 15, 2011	AFTRA and SoundExchange Tell Artists: Claim Your Digital Royalties Orgs. notify 6,126 AFTRA members about money waiting for them at SoundExchange LOS ANGELES (Sept. 15, 2011) --- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcast professionals and other performers, and SoundExchange, the...
September 5, 2011	Labor Day: A celebration of the American worker. This weekend, we’ll throw a few of God’s creatures on the Weber grill, maybe go to the union picnic or watch a parade. Some will sing, “I Dreamed I Saw Joe Hill Last Night.” I’ll put out the flag (I personally fly Old Glory) and stop to think about all the people who went before me, who stood up so I...
September 1, 2011	AFTRA Dancers Escalate Fight for a Fair Music Video Contract, Launch "It's About Time" Campaign AFTRA dancers have stepped up their campaign for a fair contract covering dancers and other performers in music videos by launching a social media and video campaign over the weekend. "It's About Time" features prominent dancers and choreographers calling for a contract that provides for safety, fair pay,...
September 1, 2011	Tom Higgins Appointed as New AFTRA Boston Local Executive Director LOS ANGELES and BOSTON --- The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including television, radio, cable, sound...
August 29, 2011	AFTRA, SAG Continue Discussions to Create One Union LOS ANGELES and NEW YORK ---- Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists continued formal discussions this weekend between the AFTRA New Union Committee and the SAG Merger Task Force to facilitate the creation of one union to represent all members of Screen Actors Guild and...
August 26, 2011	Are you Taking Advantage of Your Union Plus Benefits? Are you taking advantage of the most popular Union Plus benefits that thousands of other union members are enjoying? Don’t miss out on your benefits! Let us know what you think about these programs when you visit the web pages below or comment at Facebook.com/UnionPlus ...
August 16, 2011	AFTRA Begins Sound Recordings Code Negotiations NEW YORK (August 16, 2011) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including television, radio, cable, sound...
August 3, 2011	AFTRA Supports BBC Broadcasters Represented By NUJ AFTRA National President Roberta Reardon released the following statement of support to BBC journalists - members of the National Union of Journalists – who are at odds with their employer over various job issues, including layoffs of more than 300 employees. On Monday, they staged a 24-hour strike: ...
July 27, 2011	AFTRA Magazine Wins 2011 ILCA Excellence Award AFTRA Magazine has won a General Excellence Award from the International Labor Communications Association (ILCA) in the International and National Publications category. AFTRA Magazine, a quarterly national member publication with a circulation of approximately 75,000, won Third Award. First Award went to the...
July 27, 2011	AFTRA Praises Anniversary of Landmark ADA LOS ANGELES (July 27, 2011) — Tuesday, on the 21st anniversary of the historic Americans with Disabilities Act, the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across...
July 25, 2011	Member Delegates Re-Elect Roberta Reardon AFTRA National President Member Delegates Re-Elect Roberta Reardon AFTRA National President Union Collects $24 Million in Claims for Members AFTRA member Delegates to the 63rd National Convention of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, re-elected New York actor Roberta Reardon as their National...
July 24, 2011	AFTRA Members Re-elect Actor Roberta Reardon National President SEATTLE, WASH. (July 24, 2011) --- Member Delegates to the 63rd National Convention of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media...
July 23, 2011	Convention Update: Day 2 of the AFTRA National Convention Continues in Seattle Resolution supporting Joining Forces initiative among business conducted AFTRA delegates convened in Seattle for Day 2 of the AFTRA National Convention following a night of music, fun and sea otters at the opening night social at the Seattle Aquarium. Day 2 brought the business of the union...
July 22, 2011	AFTRA Suspends Convention to Join UNITE HERE Local 8 Rally for Better Jobs SEATTLE, WASH. (July 22, 2011) — The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO - a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including television, radio, cable, sound...
July 21, 2011	Convention Update: Day 1 AFTRA Member Delegates Gather for Opening Day of National Convention NAACP Vice President Edwards and Washington and Oregon State Labor Council Presidents Among Guest Speakers More than 200 AFTRA Member Delegates gathered today at the Seattle Westin to convene the 63rd AFTRA National Convention. ...
July 20, 2011	AFTRA National Board Approves Proposals for Sound Recordings and Network Television Contracts Explores Schedule Adjustment to Prioritize Sound Code Negotiations and New Union Discussions Seattle, Wash. (July 20, 2011) — The National Board of Directors of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters,...
July 18, 2011	AFTRA Members to Convene 63rd National Convention in Seattle Seattle, Wash. (July 18, 2011) --- Members and staff of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 recording artists, broadcasters, actors, singers, dancers and other performers who work across the spectrum of media industries including television,...
July 15, 2011	New AFTRA Videogame Contract Ratified Agreement includes new, industry-exclusive streaming fee for ‘cloud gaming’ LOS ANGELES (July 15, 2011) – The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70,000 performers, recording artists and broadcast professionals – today announced the...
July 15, 2011	AFTRA Launches Twitter Campaign to ‘Save Local News’ in Central Illinois LOS ANGELES (July 15, 2011) – Members of the Peoria Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70, 000 broadcast professionals, recording artists and performers – will launch a Twitter campaign today in conjunction with its “Day of Reckoning”...
July 12, 2011	AFTRA Members Announce ‘Day of Reckoning’ Rally for WEEK/WHOI-TV in Central Illinois Community Rally to be Held on Friday, July 15 Peoria, Illinois --- Members of the Peoria Local of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO – a national union of more than 70, 000 broadcast professionals, recording artists and performers – have announced that on Friday,...
July 7, 2011	AFTRA National Executive Director Hedgpeth Praises New Industry Copyright Alerts System LOS ANGELES — The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, today praised the announcement of a landmark, new Copyright Alerts system that will educate Internet service subscribers and notify them when their accounts are being used to download stolen copyrighted content. The innovative...
July 6, 2011	Entertainment Community Announces Grassroots Organization to Fight Content Theft FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Craig Hoffman July 6, 2011 Craig.Hoffman@creativeamerica.org 818.512.3626 Entertainment Community Announces Grassroots Organization to Fight Content Theft New Creative America organization is broad, industry-wide effort uniting...

View more in the archives...

View the computer version of this website...