The logo says it all: two unions are now one. That is a big achievement, and none too soon.

Our media industry is revolutionizing itself on a weekly basis.  Headline after headline of new formats geared to new audiences, more niche programming, more mergers, bigger conglomerates and different owners with no history of union bargaining (and anti-union to the core!) all signal a more challenging environment in which to bargain and organize.


And bargain and organize we must.  Strong bargaining protects our rates.  Good organizing is the forward momentum we must have to stay in the game.

But - and there's always a 'but', isn't there? - we must act as the one new union we voted to become, not two unions under one roof, still bound by past pattern and practice. Based on today's information about today's industry, we must affirm our new union's mission, define our new union's goals and develop the strategy to achieve those goals. Knowing who we are and where we are going is essential to ensuring that our time and resources are tightly focused to help us achieve our goals.  As leaders, as members, we need to be effective, not just busy.  

The former members of AftraNOW are a part of the transitional governance of SAGAFTRA.  We remain committed to building our new union's capacity to successfully represent all of us in the 21st century workplace, wherever that may be. "Jobs, jobs, jobs" remains our top priority. But to get there, we must  take advantage of the golden opportunity (some would say 'necessity') our new union presents us to plan for tomorrow and the decades ahead. 

These aren't just words.  They are our charge.  We hope you agree.  Join us and, together, we will, once again, build a strong, active and successful union that supports successful careers across the landscape of media..