Anne-Marie Johnson for AFTRA National Board 2009

I'm Anne-Marie Johnson and am running for a seat on AFTRA's National Board as well as an AFTRA Delegate.

I believe AFTRA needs to be a more transparent and accountable union. Most actors who work predominately under SAG contracts have no idea of the concessions AFTRA's made in its basic cable scripted dramas and animation contracts until after the fact. Although the lack of residuals for all episodes aired, the occasional elimination of forced calls, certain penalties and other give-aways assist producers, they also cheat actors of payments otherwise guaranteed under SAG contracts.

I am not a supporter of merger. I believe that on-camera actors including stunt performers, dancers, puppeteers and singers who record for movies, scripted dramas and commercials, should be represented by one union and that union should be SAG. The question to merge or not to merge is a complicated one that hasn't been answered in the last 16 attempts. And, it certainly wont be answered by June 30, 2011. The dream of the perfect storm, when all talent unions hopefully come together and hold out for stronger contracts, is just that; A dream. In the meantime, AFTRA needs more working actors on its boards to assist staff in creating contracts that serve the needs of the members and not the greed of the producers. Growing one's jurisdiction is important. But, not when it harms actors.

I thank you for your support.

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