It’s Time to Take Back Our Union

In 2008, I met Ed Asner. Ed educated me on the history of our union and warned that a new threat was on the horizon—USAN and UFS, the two political parties founded and heavily influenced by Actor/Producer/Employers like Tom Hanks.

Roughly 15 years ago, USAN/UFS seized control of our union. Since then, they’ve systematically dismantled the core protections that made pre-merger SAG-AFTRA strong: Residuals, Healthcare, Pension, Portal-to-Portal protections, and more. Instead of fighting for us, they aligned themselves with the AMPTP—the very entity that negotiates against us on behalf of our employers.

For over a decade, I’ve raised red flags about what USAN/UFS—and now The Coalition2025—have been doing to our union and its members. I warned about our healthcare and pension crisis. And then it happened.

During the pandemic, over 12,000 members lost their healthcare, many of them elderly and vulnerable Seniors. To make matters worse, USAN/UFS stripped residuals from being counted toward insurance qualification, and even eliminated guaranteed healthcare after 20 years of service. Then they lied—and blamed the pandemic.

But we didn’t just shout into the void. With Ed Asner leading the charge, a group of us filed a lawsuit against the Trustees. We won. The court found USAN/UFS Trustees had violated their fiduciary duty, and our Seniors received a \$26 million settlement.

Let that sink in. The leadership knowingly misled us about the health of our pension and healthcare plans—for 15 years. They served the employers instead of the members. They ignored streaming residuals, then—during the last election—spent over \$160,000 on glossy mailers featuring Tom Hanks, claiming we needed streaming residuals. Hanks said he supported everything but the kitchen sink.

Meanwhile, Hanks’ own company, PLAYTONE, made over \$2 billion off just two “Mamma Mia” films. Has PLAYTONE stepped up residual payments or contributions to our P\&H? Not a dime more.

That same brochure touted “MASSIVE new streaming residuals” supposedly negotiated by USAN. If that were true, why did we strike?
Answer: because of the 15-year failure of USAN/UFS/Coalition2025 to protect us.

We went on strike because of their failures. And where was Hanks?
Probably on Lake Como, enjoying a life of luxury while our members struggled to pay rent and feed their families.

So what now?

We stop the bleeding.
We vote out every USAN/UFS/Coalition2025 candidate. Every single one of them was complicit in this betrayal.

Here are the solutions I’ve proposed—and will implement as your New York President:

1. End Corporate-Backed Lobbying
Our dues are currently being used by USAN/UFS/Coalition2025 to lobby for producers’ tax credits, some reaching 40% of production costs. In New York alone, over \$700 million was given away—with zero benefit to members. As NY President, I will fight to require a percentage of those funds go to a Rank-and-File-controlled emergency/strike fund. If we’re paying for the giveaways, we deserve a cut.

2. Protect American Jobs
Hollywood is an American industry—and it’s being gutted. I will lobby Congress to:

• Penalize foreign governments that poach U.S. productions with incentives and cheap labor.
• Tax productions that go overseas chasing cash giveaways.
• Stop funneling our taxpayer money into systems that export American jobs to countries like China—which our own producers now serve more loyally than our union.

3. Fair Dues Structure
No caps on union dues.
George Clooney gave \$1 million each to 14 friends. Why should he pay less in dues than struggling actors living paycheck to paycheck?
A-listers must pay their fair share.

4. Global Union Enforcement
Studios and streamers film around the world—so must we.
I’ll implement Global Rule One enforcement, establishing international locals wherever productions go.
If they’re filming in Budapest, Berlin, or Bogotá—we’ll be there too.

5. Shared Employment Program
We’ll create shared union jobs for members—two people splitting one staff role, plus an alternate.
This gives members flexibility for auditions and jobs while ensuring steady income, healthcare, and pension accrual.

6. Stop the Patronage Pipeline
Former USAN/UFS member Rebecca Damon is now making hundreds of thousands per year doing what she used to do as a volunteer.
This is a payoff, not progress.

7. Key Background Rep on Set
Each set will have a designated union member, like a Key PA, but for union compliance.
This ensures safe working conditions and that all background and principal rules are followed.

8. Support Members Working Overnight
I will keep the New York office open 24/7 for members working odd hours.
We’ll provide:

• A safe place to rest between gigs or auditions
• Coffee, tea, light snacks
• Access to transit or cabs during unsafe hours

9. Real Casting Access
Mandatory monthly casting director meet & greets, and not just with background CDs.
Principal CDs must attend.

10. Emergency Hotline
A 24/7 emergency line staffed by trained union members who have authority to act.
If a member is stranded or unsafe after a shoot, we get them a cab—and charge it back to the production that caused the situation.

11. End Waiver Abuse
Union jobs should go to union members.
No more blanket waivers for non-union performers when union actors are available.

12. Upgrade Recognition
Too many background artists perform silent or physical principal work without proper upgrade or credit.
That ends with me.

13. Transparent Leadership
Every board meeting should be open and streamable.
You pay dues. You deserve to see what your elected officials are doing—or failing to do.

14. No Member Left Behind
Every contract negotiation must include every member classification.
No more leaving background, stunt, or day players out of the room.
Every member counts.

I’ll be sending more updates soon, outlining even more ways to protect and empower New York members.
Until then, remember: This is our union—not theirs. Let’s take it back.

— Kevin Cannon
Candidate for SAG-AFTRA New York President