FROM SAM FREED OF THE NEW YORK DIVISION

Alan Rosenberg
A man without a plan. A president on a leash.

Alan Rosenberg showed up at the recent New York SAG membership meeting to rationalize his recent actions of firing key members of SAG senior staff.

In spending so much time in explanation, Mr. Rosenberg neglected to recognize how his actions had compromised the interests of the membership.

The commercial contract expires in less than a year and while Mr. Rosenberg promises to be tough in negotiations, he had just purged the Guild of individuals with extensive expertise, knowledge of and experience negotiating that contract. He didn’t seem to know he had done that.

When confronted with that reality at the meeting, Mr. Rosenberg seemed stunned. When asked if he had a plan to replace that experience and prepare for those critical negotiations he said, “ah...I have no plan.”

No plan. He has no plan. In his first actions as SAG president he had made drastic decisions that affected the future and pocketbook of the membership and he has no plan.

That is the consequence of electing a president with no real knowledge of the issues.

Mr. Rosenberg was elected to the National Board several years ago but he has been a basic ‘no show.’ That is a matter of record. His candidacy did not arise out of a genuine experience and emersion into the real workings of the the guild. His opinions are not influenced by personal involvement in committee or negotiation. His candidacy appeared at the last moment when he was approached by a desperate Membership First core who couldn’t find any one else to run for office.

Mr. Rosenberg took the bait and now he is hooked. But his opinions and knowledge of guild issues run as deep as the misleading and distorted campaign slogans from which his compatriots solidify their votes.

He is not his own president. He is their president and he is dependent on them for instructions. His actions at the last plenary are reflective of that. He does not have the footings to act on his own. He does not have the perspective to see where he is. In the meantime he is an effective, obsequious shill while the real powers push their way past staff and the process of our union democracy to ensure their control.

There is little doubt about Mr. Rosenberg's good intentions in running for guild president. There is only hope that his intentions meet with the facts before too much more damage is done. There is hope he has the wisdom and courage to create his own plan and to stand independently and intelligently to promote it. That would be a plan that would move the guild toward a much needed consensus.