SAG-AFTRA Allows Employers to Mandate COVID-19 Vaccinations

SAG-AFTRA votes to allow employers to mandate Covid-19 vaccination as a condition of employment. Current “return-to-work protocols” expire June 30 and are being renegotiated by the major companies and unions.

In a 75%-25% vote, SAG-AFTRA’s national board of directors approved a “motion that authorizes the union’s staff to approve requests for mandatory vaccination policies in strict compliance with SAG-AFTRA’s standard parameters for mandatory vaccination policies.”

SAG-AFTRA President’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Safety, guidelines include:

1. Production must announce such policies as soon as possible, preferably in initial breakdowns or earliest casting discussions.
2. Such policies must apply equally to all cast and crew working in the relevant zone(s) or work location(s).
3. Production must have procedures in place to engage in interactive process with those requesting ADA (Americans with Disability Act) or religious accommodations, and must include the procedure for initiating a request in notices of the vaccination policy.
4. Such policies can only be enforced when vaccines have been readily available to performers for a sufficient period of time to confer immunity in time for start of work.
5. If being vaccinated as a condition of employment for the production, any vaccination costs are absorbed by employer and vaccination time is work time.
6. Vaccination records are maintained securely by employers and available only to those with need to know.

 

– Excerpt from an article for Deadline by David Robb. Read the full article here.

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