Monday, September 7, 2009

HAPPY LABOR DAY FROM THE SAG REPORTER!

THE SAG REPORTER ENDORSES KEN HOWARD, AMY AQUINO AND THE UNITE FOR STRENGTH SLATE IN HOLLYWOOD.

WE ENDORSE UNITED SCREEN ACTORS NATIONWIDE IN N.Y.--ALSO--RBD ENDORSEMENTS


Editorial by W. Burns, Editor-In-Chief
The SAG Reporter

Hollywood (September 7, 2009)

On Monday a week ago I wrote that I'd toss a coin on Friday as to whether we'd endorse any of the candidates currently running in the fall SAG election. Our correspondents, passionate men and women across the USA, hunched over their Underwoods pounding out stories on the '09 election and items concerning the Screen Actors Guild and its members, debated long and loud over the issue. Most were for it.


After examining the material from both sides I kept the coin in my pocket. This wasn't a question that would be answered by chance. Not by a proud pro-union man like myself. Not by the proud pro-union men and women who contribute so much time and effort in Hollywood, New York and in the Regional Branches. There is no question. If you're pro-union and are concerned about the Screen Actors Guild and its future, there is only one answer.

Therefore, it is with great pride that we endorse Ken Howard for SAG's National President, Amy Aquino for National Secretary-Treasurer, and the entire United For Strength slate in Hollywood. For your Hollywood voters guide, visit http://www.uniteforstrength.com/

We endorse Mike Hodge and the entire United Screen Actors Nationwide slate in New York. For your New York voters guide, visit http://www.unitedscreenactors.com/

We endorse, in the Regional Branch Division races, Helen McNutt in Philadelphia, Don Ahles in San Diego, Rik Deskin in Seattle. For your Regional Branch voters guide, please visit http://www.unitedunionperformers.org/ and click on your Branch Division, to stay updated.


Why are we endorsing them? That question will be answered in the The Sag Reporter over the next three weeks, as we file reports and stories that will examine, in detail, the current leadership in SAG and our unions history over the last several years, and stories about the important issues that face us now.

Today, Monday September 7, 2009, we celebrate Labor Day across the United States and its territories. Our union in the Screen Actors Guild is only as strong as our collective and direct involvement, and only as strong as the men and women that we elect to help lead us. The selfless men and women that have come together in Unite For Strength and United Screen Actors Nationwide have demonstrated strength, unity and intelligence with regard to the complex and difficult issues that confront us now and in the future. They have demonstrated true leadership qualities.

Mail your ballot, if you haven't already, by September 21, 2009 for your vote to count in this important election.

We hope that you have a wonderful and relaxing Labor Day with your friends and family, and that whatever part of the country you're in, the weather is pleasant and sunny.

For tomorrow we all go back to work. The never-ending work of actors. The work of finding work, of applying our craft in our work, of learning and growing as artists, and last but never least, the important work of our union, The Screen Actors Guild.