SAG-AFTRA Members Hold Informational Event On Set Of NBA Non-Union Production

SAG-AFTRA on Thursday staged an educational leafletting with approximately 40 members in front of a non-union commercial production on Venice Beach. Shooting at the famous Venice Beach Basketball Courts, the NBA TV commercial hired non-professional performers at low wages, undercutting the earnings of professionals on union contracts.

SAG-AFTRA members passed out literature and informed the cast, basketball players and beachgoers about the benefits of working union, which include better wages, health and pension benefits and safe sets, as well as the dangers to performers of non-union work.

Thursday's event is part of an ongoing educational and commercial organizing effort that has mobilized thousands of SAG-AFTRA members across the country. In addition to grassroots members working to counter the growth of non-union commercial production, the union is disciplining members who accept non-union work.

SAG-AFTRA is also undertaking an extensive outreach effort to grow commercial work opportunities for professional performers on union contracts. This industry outreach and relationship building efforts are paying off. For instance, The Honest Company, founded by member Jessica Alba, this week signed the union's Commercials Contracts. This win-win arrangement allows Honest access to the union's strong talent base, while assuring that performers on all of the company's commercials are paid fair wages, and are eligible to receive pension and health benefits.

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