Jamie Fishback

“Unions” in Entertainment

// March 23rd, 2009 // News

Majority of the time there is a mention of ‘union’ in the entertainment business, they are not actually a union. A union specifically seeks out employment for their members, where as a guild does not. A guild helps protect it’s members from getting screwed over; there is protection in larger groups.

1. SAG : Screen Actors Guild – This is the main guild that actors belong to when they say they are part of a ‘union.’

2. AFTRA : American Federation of Television and Radio Artists – This is the second largest ‘union’ for actors.

3. WGA : Writers Guild of America – This is the main guild for writers that are considered ‘union.’

4. IATSE : International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes – This, as far as I know, is probably the largest of all the ‘unions.’ They cover a mass majority of people in post-production and pre-production.

5. DGA : Directors Guild of America – This is the main guild for directors, assistant directors, stage managers, and production associates. This is actually considered a “craft union.”
6. Equity (formally British Actors’ Equity Association) – This is the “trade union” for actors, stage managers, and models in the UK.