What
is AFTRA?
AFTRA is an acronym that stands for the American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists. AFTRA is a
labor union that represents over 70,000 actors, artists
and journalists. The American Federation of Television
and Radio Artists is the most expansive of all actor
labor unions. Not only does the union represent
television and commercial actors, it covers
personalities who work on talk shows and game shows,
instant celebrities who perform on reality television
shows, musicians who record CDs and singles, and news
broadcasters who report the news, weather and sports.
AFTRA even represents performers who speak in
educational media and software, such as CD-ROMs.
How Does AFTRA
Help Actors?
Like the
other major actor labor unions (the Screen Actors Guild
and the Actor’s Equity Association), the American
Federation of Television and Radio Artists
represents actors in show-business by enforcing
collective bargaining agreements, negotiating contracts
and payment rates, and provides benefits and services to
help actors advance their careers.
Benefits Include:
- AFTRA negotiates the minimum
rates at which their members must be paid.
- Helps to resolve labor-related
disputes between talent and their employers.
- Comprehensive health benefits,
dental plans, prescription drug benefits and substance
abuse programs for members
- Retirement benefits
- Alerting members to potential
opportunities
How Do I Join AFTRA?
Unlike the
other major actor unions, the American Federation of
Television and Radio Artists is an "open union", which
means it is very easy to join. Other actor unions
require actors to work in union-recognized productions,
in addition to the payment of fees, prior to being able
to join. However, with AFTRA, actors need only pay a fee
to join.
