PrioRItize caregiver support in negotiations
THE PROBLEM
When the union enters into negotiations with an employer, there are a lot of priorities to consider: wages, jobs, working conditions and safety, health and pension payments, etc. Deciding how much weight to give each priority can be a challenge, and can often feel like a precarious balancing act.
Unfortunately, support for our caregiver members—including foster, adoptive, and birth parents, as well as those with other dependents—has failed to be a major priority in our negotiations, as evidenced by the scant provisions and protections aimed at their needs in our contracts.
Nobody should have to choose between being a caregiver and being a professional artist. Nor should having a child or another dependent be an automatic end to a stage manager or actor's career.
Unfortunately, support for our caregiver members—including foster, adoptive, and birth parents, as well as those with other dependents—has failed to be a major priority in our negotiations, as evidenced by the scant provisions and protections aimed at their needs in our contracts.
Nobody should have to choose between being a caregiver and being a professional artist. Nor should having a child or another dependent be an automatic end to a stage manager or actor's career.
THE SOLUTION
I have been educated and inspired by the extraordinary leaders of the Parent Artist Advocacy League, and their work on behalf of caregivers in our industry. Equity needs to formally prioritize support for our caregiver members in every one of our contract negotiations with our employers.
PROPOSED RESOLUTION
RESOLVED, that Actors' Equity shall prioritize the needs of caregiver members in contract negotiations, seeking to achieve support for their unique needs as workers.
