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Unions can be beneficial for health benefits, salaries, and collective efforts.

Union Issues

  1. What is a union?

  2. Are there unions for independent artists?

  3. What are the benefits of a union?

  4. What service do unions offer members, such as SAG?

  5. What are the annual union costs?

  6. How can I become a member of a union?

  7. Are there other organizations that will support my artistic endeavors through work laws and advocacy, similar to a union?

  8. Do I get health benefits if I am a member of a union? What about my dependants?

  9. What should I do if injured on the job (performance)?

What is a union?

A labor organization usually consisting of workers of the same trade that is formed for the purpose of advancing its members' interests (as through collective bargaining) in respect to wages, benefits, and working conditions.

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Are there unions for independent artists?

There are many unions for independent artists, especially performing artists.  The three main unions for professional actors are: Actors’ Equity Association (AEA), Screen Actors Guild (SAG), and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

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What are the benefits of a union?

Benefits of particular unions vary.  Some examples of union benefits include contract and collective bargaining, retirement and health plans, and access to agents and casting directors through guild-sponsored seminars and showcases. However, when you join the union you are no longer allowed to take a non-union role, so when you are just starting out it is usually wise to remain non-union for a while to gain experience by doing non-union roles.

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What services do unions offer members, such as SAG?

Performers' Unions improve basic working conditions for their members through collective bargaining to secure minimum (scale) salaries, safe and humane work conditions, retirement benefits, and health benefits. They also assist in career development by offering training sessions and workshops. 

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What are the annual union costs?

Union costs vary somewhat.  The national initiation fee for SAG is $2085.  State initiation fees for SAG vary by state.  Base Dues are $130.  Current annual dues are based on all earnings reported to Pension and Health during the previous calendar year.  Actors earning under $200,000 a year are charged dues of 1.95% of their income. Actors earning more than $200,000 a year are charged dues of 1.0% of their income.

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How can I become a member of a union?

It depends on the union you are joining.  Call the union’s membership departments or its website to get membership information. For membership into one the three main unions for professional actors (AEA, SAG, AFTRA), there is a one-time initiation fee, plus annual dues, which are calculated based on your earnings under that union’s jurisdiction. To join SAG, for example, a performing must satisfy one of the two following conditions:  1) Proof of Employment in either a principle or speaking role in a SAG production, or SAG background player for a minimum of three days; 2) Employment Under an Affiliated Performers' Union for a minimum of one year’s membership, with proof of principle work in that union’s jurisdiction. 

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Are there other organizations that will support my artistic endeavors through work laws and advocacy, similar to a union?

There are many resources for artists.  Many can be found on the internet.  Some examples include Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, National Endowment for the Arts, Americans for the Arts, Actor’s Fund of America.

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Do I get health benefits if I am a member of a union? What about my dependants?

Most performers’ unions provide health benefits.  SAG members who earn a minimum monetary requirement ($7500) in a year working under SAG contracts are automatically enrolled for twelve months in the Screen Actors Guild-Producers Pension and Health Plan.  There is also alternative eligibility based on number of days covered employment if the monetary requirement is not met.  The Health Plan covers legal spouses or same-sex domestic partners and dependent children.

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What should I do if injured on the job (performance)?

Report your injury to your employer or stage manager.  Get medical attention.  File an official workers’ compensation claim.  Often employers will have the claims available for you. 

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Contact Information: Please contact K Royal (kroyal@asu.edu), Director of Pro Bono Programs and Student Life at the College of Law at Arizona State University regarding Advocacy for the Arts and/or this website. Ms. Royal will not answer specific questions regarding the arts or individual legal situations, but she can discuss this exciting new program and its merits.

　

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