Chicago –- Actors’ Equity Association, the national labor union representing more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers in live theatre, has announced that the union’s National Council has voted to endorse Brandon Johnson in the runoffs for the Chicago mayoral election on April 4.
“Brandon Johnson shares so many of Equity's values and priorities,” said Kate Shindle, president of Actors’ Equity Association. “His lifelong involvement and activism in the labor movement, his commitment to public arts funding, his belief in gender equity and universal health care – all of these and more affirm that he will be a powerful voice for the thousands of arts professionals who live or work in Chicago.”
Equity’s public policy priorities include defending and protecting the right to collectively bargain, a prevailing wage in the arts, racial justice, a strong minimum wage, stronger federal and state arts funding, gun violence prevention, universal federal health care, tax fairness and LGBTQ non-discrimination protections.
Equity has previously endorsed candidates for major mayoral elections; the union supported Karen Bass for mayor of Los Angeles last year.
ACTORS' EQUITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1913, is the U.S. labor union that represents more than 51,000 professional actors and stage managers. Equity endeavors to advance the careers of its members by negotiating wages, improving working conditions and providing a wide range of benefits (health and pension included). Member: AFL-CIO, FIA. www.actorsequity.org #EquityWorks
March 27, 2023
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