From the onset of this life-changing pandemic, the economic security, health, and safety of AGMA members have been top of mind.
Since June of 2020, AGMA and SDC have engaged the services of an expert medical advisory panel to assist with COVID-19 safety planning and ensure that both of the Unions' members are protected in the workplace. This successful collaboration led to the publication of the acclaimed AGMA/SDC Return Stage and Performing Arts Playbook (now in its fourth revision) and a number of Updates and Guidances.
The Playbook was initially intended as an internal tool for AGMA, SDC, and our signatory companies, but the Unions made it widely available to the industry at large in August of 2020, stating that “we are all in this together.”
AGMA, SDC, and their medical experts co-hosted a number of pandemic-related webinars between July 2020 and September 2020, and the medical lead, Dr. Mark Cunningham-Hill, spoke directly to members during AGMA’s State of the Union in January 2021. These recordings are available on the website to members (MyAGMA login required).
All the work that AGMA and SDC have accomplished together has not gone unnoticed in the performing arts industry and beyond. Today, the Actors’ Equity Association announced their plans to join AGMA and SDC in seeking guidance from the AGMA/SDC Expert Medical Advisory Panel to keep their members working safely, too.
We look forward to working more closely with Actors’ Equity as we all continue to navigate through the muddy waters of the pandemic.