The Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) Executive Vice President Linda Powell extended a warm welcome to delegates in New York, during her speech she shared her journey to union leadership, emphasizing the common ground between different workers and the importance of collective action. 

Reflecting on the past year, she highlighted the significant strike against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP), stressing that it was not a mere “Hollywood strike” but a broader labor movement involving 160,000 members working across various jobs in the industry. Powell underscored the hard work and creative labor of all members, from stars to day players. She recounted the challenges faced during the strike and how it came on the heels of a pandemic that already strained the industry, emphasizing solidarity among industry unions and the lingering uncertainties about work and negotiations with producers.

“Unions have had a long and snowy path and our Industries have changed,” said Powell. “Employers may have the access, they may have specific economic structures on their side but we have the numbers and without us they have nothing.

Powell also reflected on the growing relevance and public support for unions, attributing it to their role in fostering equality, democracy, and inclusivity within the workplace and beyond.

“Every day unions are more popular than ever in history for good reason, we make life better. We make life fairer,” continued Powell. “Unions are the best answer to the rising inequality in today’s world. And we are the most democratic representative inclusive, organizations, in our society.”

This speech marks a significant moment for the IAM and SAG-AFTRA, highlighting a renewed commitment to unity and action within the union and across the broader labor movement.

“Let’s organize, let’s vote, and let us make that future a reality,” said Powell. “Because when we fight, we win.”