Associated Actors and Artistes of America
Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox organization The Associated Actors and Artistes of America (4As), established in 1919,<ref name="est">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> is the federation of trade unions for performing artists in the United States.<ref> Gary M. Fink, ed. Labor unions (Greenwood, 1977) pp. 3-4.</ref>
The union was established by the merger of the Actors' Equity Association and the White Rats of America. By the mid-1940s, its affiliates were:
- Actors' Equity Association<ref name="reynolds">Template:Cite book</ref>
- American Federation of Radio Artists<ref name="reynolds" />
- American Guild of Musical Artists<ref name="reynolds" />
- American Guild of Variety Artists<ref name="reynolds" />
- Brother Artists Association<ref name="reynolds" />
- Chorus Equity Association<ref name="reynolds" />
- Hebrew Chorus Union<ref name="reynolds" />
- Hungarian Actors' and Artists' Association<ref name="reynolds" />
- Screen Actors' Guild<ref name="reynolds" />
As of 2022, the following unions belong to the 4As:
- The Actors' Equity Association (AEA)
- The American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)
- The American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)
- The Guild of Italian American Actors (GIAA) also known as Italian Actors' Union<ref name="reynolds" />
- The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
The organization is a member of the AFL–CIO. The 4As splits its votes in AFL-CIO elections based on the wishes of each member union. The current AAAA member unions of the AFL–CIO are: AEA, AGMA, GIAA, and SAG-AFTRA. The well-known performer and civil rights activist Theodore Bikel was President of the 4As until his death in 2015.<ref name="prez">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
On June 1, 2014, Department for Professional Employees, AFL–CIO (DPE) took over administrative functions of the 4As, as per an April 15, 2014, agreement between the DPE and the 4As. As part of the agreement, AGVA and GIAA affiliated with the DPE. AGMA, already a DPE affiliate, AGVA, and GIAA remain AFL-CIO affiliates through the 4As. The other two 4As members, AEA and SAG-AFTRA, previously received direct charters from the AFL-CIO. DPE President Paul Almeida became the Executive Secretary of the 4As .
OfficersEdit
The following are the 4As officers as of July 15, 2024:
- President – Gabrielle Carteris, SAG-AFTRA
- 1st Vice President – Duncan Crabtree-Ireland, SAG-AFTRA
- 2nd Vice President – Alvin Vincent, Jr., AEA
- 3rd Vice President – Susanne Doris, AGVA
- 4th Vice President – Allison Beck, AGMA
- 5th Vice President – Carlo Fiorletta, GIAA
- Treasurer – Nikki Switzer, AEA
- Executive Secretary – Paul E. Almeida, 4As