Disabled Actors are Union's Road Kill

Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA Leave Actors to their bedpans and bed sores.



On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 2:33 PM, Stacey Jackson wrote: Hello Peppi, I received your voicemail regarding the emergency assistance program. Unfortunately, you fall short of our eligibility requirements at this time, and I’m sorry about that. Eligible members must have a minimum of five years in the Guild and also meet a SAG earnings requirement of $15,000 or more in the last five years. You were short on the earnings side. Please don’t hesitate to call or email if you have any further questions. Best of luck to you.

Sincerely,
Stacey Jackson
Emergency Assistance Administrator
Screen Actors Guild Foundation
Ph: (323) 549-6773 Fax: (323) 549-6710



Stacey Jackson
Emergency Assistance Administrator
Screen Actors Guild Foundation
Ph: (323) 549-6773 Fax: (323) 549-6710

Dear Stacey, Yeah, I was short on the earnings side because I've had 45 surgical procedures during that time which have caused 3 heart attacks 5 coma's and the list goes on and on. Yet, all these new kids show up who don't even know what "blocking" is, and are just given jobs. Jobs which people who have put the time, years, experience and practice in who really need to work just to keep insurance and survive get overlooked.

What is the point of even having a union if there is no way of controlling justice in the labor end? And don't tell me it has anything to do with looks or talent or who you know. Because what I see has little to no talent. And we all know what is done with editing together 40 takes of the same line. So those of us who have been around aren't so amused with Academy winners or "Lifetime Achievement Award" winners who get the award when their only thirty years old.

I had the good fortune of being groomed by 'Old Hollywood' with Old Hollywood ethics, practices, acting skills, manners and that list goes on and on. I guess I have to take the issue public that SAG and AFTRA, neither supports people with disabilities and allows their own to go bankrupt from medical co-payments.

I know it's not personally your fault Stacy. And you don't know anything other that what you see on a computer screen. Which is very little. AFTRA was supposed to have a "Disabled Actor" thing just for this, but they failed to come through. I attempted time after time with AFTRA when they acted as if they were going to have such an emergency plan in place so that we could work between surgeries to afford the bare necessities.

My "further questions" to you, Stacey, is how do we change the labor union to look out for our sick and injured when they, like me, have the will to survive multiple, horrible catastrophic injuries and illnesses only to end up bankrupt, evicted and living on the streets.

It's time people, fellow union members, actors and other entertainers, producers, directors, crew members. You all have unions. You all are one slip away from being like me. And if it can happen to me, it can happen to you. And it will happen to some of you.

So when you're selling off your prized possessions for a mere six pence, just remember who warned you. No one, absolutely no one, should hold their own estate sale. It is without a doubt, the most horrifying thing, next to evictions and homelessness. Then you become a criminal for just surviving. Because it's illegal to be homeless. Think about it next time you go to pay for something, just what would you do if you had no way to pay for whatever it is you are doing at that moment. What?

My name is Peppi Turco, and I am the Leader of the New Revolution.


Regretfully yours,
Peppi Turco