AFTRA FACT SHEET
The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, AFL-CIO, are the people who entertain and inform America. More than 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists are moving forward together through AFTRA to protect and improve our jobs, lives, and communities. AFTRA members embrace change in society—from new culture to new technology—and incorporate change in our work and craft. AFTRA celebrates and thrives on the diversity of our members and the work we do. AFTRA opens a whole new world of opportunities for success for professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists. In 32 Locals across the country, AFTRA members work as actors, journalists, dancers, singers, announcers, hosts, comedians, disc jockeys, and other performers across the media industries including television, radio, cable, sound recordings, music videos, commercials, audio books, non-broadcast industrials, interactive games, the Internet, and other digital media. Visit AFTRA at www.aftra.com.
President: Roberta Reardon
Executive Director: Kim Roberts Hedgpeth
Membership: More than 70,000 professional performers, broadcasters, and recording artists
Founded: August 16, 1937 in New York City
Offices:
32 Locals across the country with National Headquarters in Los Angeles and New York
Contract Negotiation and Enforcement
The union negotiates and enforces over 300 collective bargaining agreements that guarantee minimum (but never maximum) salaries, safe working conditions and health and retirement benefits. When the union is unable to resolve disputes with employers, AFTRA contracts include procedures for binding arbitration. The cost of these proceedings is paid by the union.
Advocacy
AFTRA advocates on legislative and public policy issues that directly affect members' wages and working conditions. This includes lobbying and support for such issues as ownership consolidation in the broadcast industry, Equal Employment Opportunity laws and regulations, copyright and performance rights issues, "non-compete" restrictions, OSHA and local safety regulations, and more. AFTRA also represents artists and journalists in judicial proceedings, often as amicus, and before the U.S. Copyright Office.
Department for Professional Employees of the AFL-CIO (DPE)
Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4-A's)
International Federation of Actors (FIA)
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
Website: www.aftra.com
Publications: AFTRA Magazine
Contacts: Chris de Haan
National Communications Manager
323.634.8203
Ray Bradford
National Director of Equal Opportunities Department
323.634.8298
AFTRA Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO) Department
Mission Statement
To increase and ensure equal employment opportunities for all members, so that the American Scene is accurately reflected in all contract areas
AFTRA supports the welfare of its members through benefits and programs sponsored or supported by the union. AFTRA was the first industry union to establish employer-paid health and retirement plans for members and their dependents that qualify. The Health Fund provides comprehensive medical and hospital benefits, a dental plan, prescription drug program, and mental health and substance abuse programs. The Retirement Fund is portable, so that wherever members work under an AFTRA contract—whether on a television or radio program, a sound recording, commercial or industrial show—employer contributions are made on their behalf. For more detailed information about the AFTRA Health & Retirement Funds, visit www.aftrahr.com.
AFTRA membership also provides access to a series of supplemental benefits, discounts and other programs through groups such as Group Benefits Associates, TEIGIT, UnionPlus/Union Privilege and MusicPro.
The AFTRA Foundation, a separate tax-exempt organization funded entirely by voluntary contributions, works in even broader ways to benefit performers and broadcasters and supports the educational and charitable objectives of AFTRA.
Scholarships are available to AFTRA members and dependents through the AFTRA Heller Memorial Foundation. AFTRA members are also eligible for assistance through organizations such as Theatre Authority and the Actors' Fund. In addition, several AFTRA Locals sponsor scholarship programs and various charitable foundations for the benefit of AFTRA members and/or their dependents.
AFTRA Local offices offer a wide variety of special programs tailored to the needs of members who live and work in their area. These programs range from publication of talent guides distributed to local producers, agents and casting directors; scheduling of conservatories or seminars which help members improve skills, write resumes and develop audition techniques; opportunities for members to meet casting directors, agents and others who hire talent; and local showcases to highlight new talent to the industry.
Affiliations
- To increase employment, as well as opportunities for that employment for women minorities, seniors, people with disabilities and LGBT members.
- To protect and strengthen Non-Discrimination / Affirmative Action
- To be a vital and integral part of all internal organizing initiatives
- To monitor legislative and regulatory changes affective our members’ interests and advocate on their behalf
- To broaden the base of activism among our members; thereby becoming an integral part of the union leadership infrastructure
- To build and maintain strategic relationships with civil rights, community-based and industry organizations
- To build a strong and working national-to-local committee structure
- To build and maintain internal and external communications vehicles; thereby creating an ongoing “dialogue” within the industry-at-large, as well as the general public
- Whenever applicable, work with other unions and guilds on common initiatives and interests
- To monitor and challenge systemic negative stereotypical portrayals
