Thinking Locally, Acting Globally

“Live entertainment artists are facing the same global issues,” Actors’ Equity Executive Director (and DC Labor FilmFest Advisory Committee member) John Connolly told UNION CITY in an exclusive interview. “We face international employers like Disney and international tours of plays and musicals, some of which are union, some of which are not.” The cruise ship industry, Connolly said, “often uses flags of convenience to avoid organizing. But we have an opportunity to work with our sister theater unions around the world.” Although theater unions have been formally allied on an international level since 1952 – through the International Association of Actors – “It’s clear now that solidarity is no longer abstract or sentimental and we can – and must -- work together on international campaigns to improve the lot of actors everywhere.” Connolly described a nascent effort between Actors Equity and the Theatre Association of Zambia, “that’s a real two-way street, with us learning as much from them as they do from us. There are so many differences, and at the same time, so many similarities in our struggles.”