2019 SAG-AFTRA Election Series: Episode 1: NY Local Presidential Candidate Kevin Cannon BG Statement
- backgroundartists
- Aug 11, 2019
- 5 min read
As Election Irregularities and Exclusionary Campaign Practices have already effected the 2019 SAG-AFTRA Local (ref. Atlanta SAG-AFTRA Election Violations prompt Do-Over) and National Elections, the Background Artists Coalition (BAC) will be sharing publicly - on this FB Page, on our Website and on Twitter @bgcoalition2020 - Election News and Candidate Statements shared with BAC in an effort to help level the playing field by publicly disseminating this information which is vital to any fair and democratic #Union Elections Process.
While SAG-AFTRA Background Artists constitute the majority of the working Union Membership, Background Actors have suffered disproportionately under recent SAG-AFTRA Contracts that allow Union Members to be paid Minimum Wage and - in some SAG-AFTRA-Sanctioned Contracts - nothing at all (not even deferred payment; Just straight up FREE LABOR for Producers) and Contracts that allowed Producers to whittle down the Required Number of Union Background Artists to 12 (e.g. Netflix Production of OITNB), BAC has invited all 2019 SAG-AFTRA Candidates to send us their platform statements specific to how they plan to advocate for Union Background Artists.
We begin this 2019 SAG-AFTRA Election Cycle Series with the Statement provided to BAC from NY Local SAG-AFTRA Presidential Candidate Kevin Cannon.
Please Note: BAC is providing a space and Virtual Forum for 2019 SAG-AFTRA Candidates. We have not endorsed any 2019 SAG-AFTRA Candidate and the publication on this page of their statements does not constitute an endorsement. That said, we are proud to be able to help and believe it is our duty to do so.
The following is the abridged (with the Candidate's permission) version of Mr. Cannon's Statement. The full text was emailed to all NY SAG-AFTRA Members at the Candidate's expense:
Kevin Cannon 01 NY President
In 1989, Television Productions were required to hire a MINIMUM of 125 Union Background Artists for any such roles available.
That required number of Union BG jobs made it possible for Union Members to have health, pension, residuals and a living wage. And this was the state of production even though there were no public Tax credits given to TV & film producers at that time.
By 2019, SAG-AFTRA NY Background Minimums have been cut by a whopping one hundred (100!) jobs, all the way down to twenty-five (25) on Television production contracts and even fewer for New Media (some with only 12 Union BG jobs) and residuals for New Media are practically non-existent.
And yet, today these same studios are making record breaking billion dollar paydays and Rebecca Damon and the entire USAN/UFS party in charge have continuously failed to negotiate any improvements for Union Background Artists.
If the networks, in 1989, could afford realistic residuals and pay living wages with NO government-provided Film Tax Credits and no Billion Dollar revenue, then why have we - the barely-working-Union-members in NY - been denied a substantial increase in wage and other expenses such as cars and mileage?
The current leadership has FAILED THE MEMBERS MISERABLY AND REPEATEDLY ROLLED OVER FOR ONE BAD CONTRACT AFTER ANOTHER!
Union Background have the majority, so if we stand up together, we can turn this ship around and make better the lives, health and job opportunities for ALL Union Background Artists.
So please Stand With Me in this Election and be counted!
Our union needs to be organized and administered effectively, efficiently and for the absolute benefit of all members.
Together, we need to vote out the current Leadership and if you’ll allow me to represent you as NY President, I guarantee the following:
I guarantee I will increase background numbers in New York SUBSTANTIALLY.
I guarantee I will gain substantial increases in car bumps and mileage.
I guarantee I will bring back portal to portal.
I guarantee I will stand Firm with New Media and hold them to paying network equivalent residuals.
I guarantee I will sit down with every new show's producer that shoots in NY and instruct them that they must treat all members with respect and adhere to all contract particulars, specifically that they will no longer be able to arbitrarily decide to not pay for period wardrobe or get away with providing food for crew only!
Nothing pisses me off more than being told the food is for crew only when the contract specifically instructs production to provide union members with the same food as crew.
As NY President I will Not waste money on exorbitant board member expenses and I will NEVER spend a million dollars on hotel suites and parties and limousines.
Instead, I intend to keep the office open 24 hours for members to do self tapes, get together to network, rest while waiting hours for the next bus or train after wrap or to use the computer rooms.
Additionally, I guarantee I will insist Background casting agencies advise call time a full 12 hours in advance or pay member for the turnaround time lost (meaning if they tell you at midnight you have an 8am call, they would owe you four hours additional straight time).
I guarantee I will host more frequent Casting Director Meet & Greets. And, unlike the current leadership, I will not advertise a Casting Director Meet & Greet and only deliver Background Casting Personnel; I will only have Legitimate Principle Casting Directors.
As far as the 2020 contract, a 2 1/2 -3% raise is an INSULT!
ACTRA (the Canadian Actors Union) negotiated a 9% raise and equitable residuals for new media in their last contract with the studios and SAG-AFTRA will settle for no less with me on the negotiating committee.
I intend to change the NY constitution to allow for the hiring of union members for union office jobs with liberal time off for auditions.
I will absolutely make the complete merger of pensions a priority and promise not to take another seven years and counting since Rebecca Damon backed the disastrous faux merger.
I fully intend to negotiate the 2020 contract from a point of Finally standardizing our contracts as they were pre-merger, meaning that I will go back to AFTRA NETCODE shows and Aftra contracts and all new shows originating in NY will all be SAG contracts as they were before Rebecca Damon, purposely and recklessly, split SAG members earnings.
This is OUR union and we have to take a stand!
It time to take back our union and elect leaders who share our common goals.
Please vote for me in all four categories:
Kevin Cannon: 01 NY President, 17 Local Board, 57 National Board, 92 Convention Delegate.
And I endorse in NY in all categories: Billy Lake, Joy Bridenbaker, Z Chuen, Vincent Pastore, Patrick M.Walsh, Piper Perabo.
Nationally, I support Matthew Modine, Jodi Long and the entire Membership First Slate.
Please vote for me and those I endorse and I guarantee we will deliver new and better opportunities for all SAG-AFTRA Members.
Kevin Cannon 01 NY President
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