Sag-Aftra actor union
Sean Astin elected as the new president
Sean Astin was elected SAG-ATTRA president and thus follows his mother Patty Duke, who held the office 37 years ago.
A family tradition continues: Sean Astin (54) was elected on Friday with an overwhelming majority as the new president of the Sag-Aftra actor union. The 534-year-old “Lord of the Rings” star enters his mother Patty Duke’s footsteps, who held the same office 37 years ago. With almost 80 percent of the votes, AstSin clearly prevailed against his opponent Chuck Slavin, who only received a little more than 20 percent.
On Astin’s side, Michelle Hurd (58) will act as treasurer. The actress from “Star Trek: Picard” secured around 65 percent of the vote against her competitor Peter Antico. Both will now lead the mighty 160,000 members strong union, which made international headlines through their historical strike in 2023.
Optimism despite difficult times
“Now the time for optimism and creativity is,” Astin explained immediately after his election victory. The actor was delighted with the trust of the members: “I am enthusiastic that the members have allowed me to bring out our traditional organization out of this challenging moment and to lead to a future that is shaped by trust, progress and uncompromising interests.”
For her part, Hurd announced that he “protect and multiply” the union’s resources. The industry is in a transitional state with real challenges, but it is optimistic and ready to fight, according to the new treasurer.
Continuity after Fran Drescher’s era
After the previous president Fran Drescher (67) had no longer started to re -election, AstSin and Hurd are now focusing on continuity. Both had already served on the board under the “Nanny” actress and were part of the negotiating committee during the successful strike 2023. Her election program focuses on returning productions to the USA, improved access to health and pension plans as well as increased AI protection measures.
The first test is imminent
The two newbies will not have long to familiarize themselves. Preparations for contract negotiations 2026 will soon begin when the current SAG-ATTRA contract expires on June 30th. It will be the first return to the negotiating table since the successful actor strike from 2023.
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which negotiated on behalf of the studios and streaming services, promptly reacted to the election results. “We look forward to working with President Astin to tackle the most important concerns of the SAG-ATTRA actors and at the same time to promote stability and opportunities in our industry,” said the organization.
Spotonnews
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
