The actor Sean Astin is now president of SAG-AFRA, calling it a time for optimism and creativity "

Actor Sean Astin, especially known for his roles in ‘Rudy’, ‘The Goonies’, and ‘The Lord of the Rings’ trilogy, were elected President of SAG -AFRA, the most important American actor union. He follows Fran Drescher, who did not seek re -election. Astin won a victory in the landslide and achieved 79% of the vote and defeated Chuck Slavin, who waged an independent campaign aimed at challenging the union’s leadership. Slavin, a member of the Union’s local board in New England, secured only 21% of the vote. Astin ran as part of a coalition called “The Coalition”, which brought together members of traditionally opposing groups within the Union, as well as those who are not attached to any specific faction. The effort seems to be good, with Astin drawing wide support from across the organization. His election also has personal meaning. Astin is now holding a post that his late mother, Patty Duke, held as president of the Screen Actors Guild from 1985 to 1988. The trade union later merged with retirement in 2012 to become SAG-AFRA. In a statement released shortly after the results were announced, Astin expressed hope and determination about the future of the union. “Now it’s a time for optimism and creativity,” Astin said. “I am delighted that the members allowed me to lead our deepened organization from this challenging moment and defined a future through trust, progress and fierce advocacy.” Astin has been actively involved in trade union politics for more than six years and was a member of the negotiating committee during the 2023 strike of the actors, who lasted four months and stopped film and television production. He previously shared that he got engaged during the Covid-19 pandemic, and attended numerous hours of the Zoom committee meetings and learned about the inner operation of the Union. Slavin lost the position to Astin Chuck Slavin, who ran as an outsider, criticized the nature of the election in ‘Ne -mail to press after the result was announced. “Disappointing,” he wrote, adding that he was facing a political machine by the mighty Hollywood elite, which he said “influenced their grip on power.” Despite the loss, the campaign of slave in the past few years has attracted attention to members who were dissatisfied with the direction of the union. A new chapter for SAG-down Astin’s election is seen as a step towards rebuilding unit within SAG-DRA, after years of internal disputes and major disruptions in the industry, including the pandemic and recent strikes. Michelle Hurd, also part of “The Coalition”, was elected as secretary treasurer and fills in a leadership team that will bring a lot of hope stability and renewed energy to the union. With his experience, name recognition and commitment to member advocacy, Astin is now facing the challenge of sending Sag-down by a rapidly changing entertainment landscape-one formed by artificial intelligence, streaming platforms and ongoing contract negotiations.