California’s governor is the top decisionmaker when it comes to how much financial support the state gets for the film and television production. Those dollars translate into hundreds of good union jobs for our members, which is why the gubernatorial election is so important to those who work in the film and TV industry. The role our governor plays in the advocacy and support of our industry cannot be understated.
AFM Local 47’s members benefit most from a governor who will protect, stabilize, and grow film and television jobs throughout our state.
As a member of the Entertainment Union Coalition (EUC), AFM 47 along with our partners in the EUC have met with the top nine gubernatorial candidates over the past few months to educate them on the benefits to California from a robust, growing film and television industry and to get a commitment from them on supporting the industry. Jobs in the industry are good-paying, skilled union jobs. They allow our members to support their families and add to a stronger local and state economy through their spending and taxes.
The EUC and Local 47 recognize the need for a governor who will support expanded funding for the California Film & Television Jobs Program while removing hurdles that other industries, such as big tech, don’t face in their incentive structures. Until recently, California took for granted that “Hollywood” would always remain here. That is no longer true. We cannot afford to slip back into that mindset and lose further ground.
Local 47’s partnership with the EUC and its collective 167,000 members allows us to more effectively advocate for state policies that benefit our members and the state economy as a whole. There’s power in numbers and collective action.
As a coalition, the EUC is committed to ensuring that the next governor fully understands our industry, the challenges our members face, the good union jobs at stake, and the importance of investing in film and television production for the future health of California.
Learn more about the EUC and Local 47’s work there at www.KeepCaliforniaRolling.org