SAG-AFTRA badges

While I appreciate IMDb’s efforts to verify SAG-AFTRA membership for actors, I would like to address an important oversight regarding Financial Core (Fi-Core) status within SAG-AFTRA and the necessity for IMDbPro to provide a similar badge for those in this category.

As a dues-paying SAG-AFTRA Financial Core member for the past 35 years, I am fully eligible for all union work. SAG-AFTRA itself confirms my eligibility for union projects whenever producers inquire. However, IMDbPro does not provide a means for actors like myself to verify this status, leaving producers uncertain about whether or not they can hire us for union work. This is a critical issue, especially given the prominent role IMDbPro plays in the casting and production process.

While I understand IMDb’s current system is focused on full union members, Financial Core status is a legally protected option that ensures producers can hire us for both union and non-union work. By not providing a badge or some form of verification for Fi-Core actors, IMDb is inadvertently contributing to misinformation regarding our eligibility for union projects.

According to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Communications Workers of America v. Beck, 487 U.S. 735 (1988), individuals in industries with union security clauses, such as the entertainment industry, have the right to elect Fi-Core status and still be eligible for union projects. This legal precedent affirms the rights of Fi-Core members to perform union work while limiting their financial contributions to union activities not related to representation. Further, under Section 8(a)(3) of the National Labor Relations Act, Fi-Core members retain their eligibility for employment in union workplaces without the same restrictions placed on non-members.

I believe IMDbPro should reflect this legal reality by offering a badge or verification option for Fi-Core actors. This would help producers and industry professionals understand that Fi-Core actors like myself remain available and eligible for SAG-AFTRA work. Many producers already reach out to SAG-AFTRA to confirm our standing, and IMDbPro could easily streamline this process.

I respectfully request that IMDbPro develop a Fi-Core verification badge, or at the very least, provide a secondary designation under the SAG-AFTRA membership verification. This will ensure transparency and accuracy in the casting process for producers who utilize IMDbPro as a resource. IMDbPro is a vital tool in the industry, and this small adjustment would ensure that all eligible actors—regardless of their full or Fi-Core membership—are accurately represented.

Thank you for considering this request. I am confident this will serve both the interests of IMDbPro and the actors who rely on it for fair representation in the industry.