Unions

A helpful guide to actor’s unions and links to get more information

A quick overview

Actor’s unions play a crucial role in the entertainment industry, advocating for the rights, wages, and working conditions of performers. While different countries have their own unions, two of the largest and most well-known in the United States are:

Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA): This union represents actors working in film, television, radio, commercials, and other media. For more information check out SAG-AFTRA’s website:
https://www.sagaftra.org

Actors’ Equity Association (AEA or Equity): This union represents actors and stage managers working in live theatre. For more information check out AEA’s website:
https://actorsequity.org

In the United States, both SAG-AFTRA and AEA are affiliated with the Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As), a federation of unions and guilds representing performing artists. Other unions affiliated with the 4As include:
The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)
The American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)
The Guild of Italian American Actors (GIAA)

Outside the US, other actors’ unions exist in different countries, such as:
Equity (United Kingdom)
ACTRA (Canada)
Actors Equity of Australia
Irish Actors’ Equity Association
These unions often collaborate internationally through organizations like the International Federation of Actors (FIA) to advocate for performers’ rights on a global scale.