Droga5 in the US continues to come under mounting pressure from a tenacious union representing performers for claims of exploitation and unfair pay.
The Screen Actors Guild (SAG)/the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) presented the agency with a petition signed by 8000 people working across the industry, demanding it change its practices.
The event, which saw union members escorted away from the Droga offices after the building's management called the police, is also accompanied by a digital takeover of the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Ad Week and Advertising Age websites to raise awareness of what the union calls “exploitation by Droga5 and other agencies.”
The digital takeover will be followed by full-page print ads in several industry trade publications.
“SAG-AFTRA went to Droga5 today and stood up to agencies that exploit performers by continuing the destructive practice of unfair pay,” US national executive director David White says.
“There is no place in the growing, lucrative advertising industry for companies that undermine performer rights in the name of profit, and we’ll continue to fight for fair wages, working conditions and benefits for all actors.”
Droga5 has issued a statement, explaining that by remaining a non-signatory to the SAG commercials contract, it enables it to engage in non-union shoots when it is deemed appropriate. However, "when managing SAG productions," it says, "we always use SAG performers, which include any commercials for SAG-signatory clients or featuring any SAG celebrity talent. In those instances, we abide by SAG rules and pay SAG wages across the board. We do not engage SAG performers in non-union productions."
Zoe Angus, director of Actors Equity Australia, previously told AdNews the same problems don’t occur on home soil. However, the organisation (SAG-AFTRA's equivalent here) encourages members to report when they are asked to work under subpar conditions.
"Overwhelmingly Australian actors working on Australian TV commercials are engaged on the industry standard television commercials contract. If they are offered rates or conditions below this we urge them to contact us,” she says.
SAG-AFTRA represents approximately 160,000 actors, announcers, broadcast journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voice over artists and other media professionals in the US.
Last September, Droga5 announced it would be closing the doors of its Sydney shop just months after it came out swinging about getting the struggling office back on track.
Since the news broke, as many as eight staff have headed to the Big Apple for jobs at Droga5 NYC.
Email Nicola at nicolariches@yaffa.com.au.