AFM Launches Workplace Safety Initiatives

May 1, 2024

Tino Gagliardi  -  AFM International President

Since becoming AFM president, I have met with members all across the Federation and there is one common theme: if we want to grow, if we want more work opportunities, and a more inclusive industry, we need to change the culture and how we do business.

Safe Workplaces

In the following months the AFM will launch its safe workplaces initiative and training. There are too many times when members don’t feel safe and protected from harassment in the workplace. It’s time to change the culture. I’m announcing the following steps:

• We will bargain a requirement that employers provide meaningful harassment training to workers, and we will review the materials and training provided. We urge all AFM locals to do the same in their local agreements.
• The AFM will create a hotline where anyone can report unsafe working conditions and get access to help, no matter where they work.
• We will provide additional training for locals about how to handle complaints and require that all our employers provide for a safe and healthy work environment. Preconference officer training modules have been set for 2024 regional conferences, including a local officer mental health module in compliance with direction from the 102nd AFM Convention.
• We will take a new approach to member-on-member complaints, prioritizing meritorious claims rather than automatically filing grievances for the sake of process.
• Workplace protection is a complex problem that requires allies and partnerships. We’ll expand our work with the Entertainment Community Fund and work collaboratively with other unions in our industry to help create a better culture.

Union Business

As you have probably heard, the public support for unions is at a record high. We cannot, must not, miss this moment to capitalize and grow while the public is with us. Over the last few months, we’ve seen exciting growth and change from unions across the country. The United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW) has made bold plans to organize the Deep South. Recently, they won a decisive and historic victory at the Volkswagen plant in Tennessee. In the entertainment world, Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) and the Writers Guild of America (WGA) united the industry and won important new contract gains.

There is much we can learn from how other unions are growing and changing and the Federation must also grow and adapt with the times if we are to remain relevant. That’s why we’re exploring retaining an outside consultant to review all of the Federation’s operations and see how we can grow and modernize to better serve members. That process will also include getting feedback from rank-and-file members like you.

Watch for more on this in the months ahead.

Contract Wins

In our negotiations with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP) for new Basic Theatrical Motion Picture and Basic Television Motion Picture agreements, we changed how we negotiated, bringing members further into the bargaining process and earlier than ever before. We also noted important gains in our new Pamphlet B and Short Engagement Tour (SET) agreements with Broadway League and Disney Theatrical Productions. There are additional details about these agreements on page 12.

I am excited for our future. The public is with us. We must embrace this moment for growth and change.

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2024 Conference Schedule

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