Press Releases California

The pandemic erased a 10-year period of explosive growth in California’s Performing Arts sector, resulting in a loss of more than 168,000 jobs and $11 billion in economic value throughout the economy

Coalition of unions and employers are seeking funding for the Equitable Payroll Fund to kickstart live arts jobs

A coalition including Actors’ Equity Association and the Theatre Producers of Southern California (TPSCA) kicked off a campaign to fund SB 1116, the groundbreaking arts bill that passed the legislature and was signed into law last year.

Actors’ Equity Association stands in solidarity with the 48,000 academic workers of the University of California currently fighting for an equitable UC. Many Equity members are proud alumni of the University of California. We call on the University to bargain in good faith and speedily reach fair agreements with the workers who make UC the #1 ranked public university system in the United States.

“This bill is an important step forward for California’s live arts industry and the thousands of arts workers who have still not fully recovered from the COVID shutdown,” said Kate Shindle, President of Actors’ Equity Association. “In signing this bill, Gov. Newsom clearly understands that the live arts are a huge economic driver in communities across California. Our work is not over, as we must now secure funding for this program in the next session. I’m grateful for the leadership of Senator Portantino, who brought this innovative bill to the floor for a vote, and hope that Gov. Newsom will work with our coalition to fund it.”

Today Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live entertainment, has filed with the Los Angeles City Employee Relations Board on behalf of the planetarium lecturers at Griffith Observatory. The entirety of the planetarium’s lecture staff have signed union authorization cards. As a result 

Union Calls on Gov. Newsom to Support the Innovative Bill From Sen. Portantino That Ensures Arts Funding Goes to Arts Workers and Helps Small Nonprofits with Payroll