SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher addresses members of the Union’s ruling party in controversial national council debate on Covid vaccination mandates

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher stood up at Saturday’s controversial national council meeting for a heated two-hour debate on Covid-19 vaccination mandates. He received support mainly, but not exclusively, from members of the United by Force faction, who supported his election last year.

“The scoreboard blew it up for two hours. “He has received many unfair and disrespectful attacks for telling him the truth about him,” said one person who attended the virtual meeting.

Those who disagreed with his position, including members of the separatist faction MembershipFirst, would have thought he was “misinformed” about some aspects of the science behind vaccines and their proven reduction in virus transmission. As the CDC notes, “mounting evidence suggests COVID-19 vaccines also reduce infection and asymptomatic transmission.”

At the end of the meeting, Drescher told the board that he was a little “shocked” by the reaction he received, but noted that “this is a democracy” and that it is his job to represent the interests of all members.

“Nobody was disrespectful to Fran,” said another source. “They were emotionally charged, but he made comments that sadly they weren’t knowledgeable about the science of vaccine efficacy, FDA approval, and how vaccines work. Most of the passion was making sure the board was thoroughly informed about the science. It is also about protecting members and how those protocols allowed members to return to work safely and how important it is. Many members reported that the vaccine allowed them to stay busy in a line of work where people do not. they would be disguised or socially distanced.

“The tone of the room,” said this source, “was overwhelmingly to promote vaccines, protect our members and return-to-work protocols. People have noticed that we continue to have conversations with the best epidemiologists and that we continue to follow science and we will continue to do so as we move forward. But in the end, we must put the safety of our members first. As science advances, if qualified scientists recommend changes in our approach, we will certainly follow their advice, such as we have been doing for the past two years.

“I appreciate that the National Council has been kind and clear to members whose beliefs are not based on science,” said one council member. “That said, vaccines save lives and we have lived with enough misinformation.”

In April 86.44% of the National Council voted in favor of the return to work protocols. The Executive Committee of the Union and its Security Committee are also overwhelmingly in favor of the Protocols.

When running for president a year ago, Drescher supported protocols containing a strictly defined provision that allows employers to make vaccinations a working condition as long as they have procedures in place to “accept”. An interactive process with those applying for the Americans with Disabilities Act or religious accommodations.

“Although vaccines are a key component in reducing the spread of the Covid-19 virus,” he said during last year’s campaign, “they are not 100% effective in preventing Covid from contracting or spreading. For this, hospital protocols still require masks and all patients must be tested for Covid, regardless of whether the patient was vaccinated or not before entering the hospital.

Last April, 100 union members held a rally outside the SAG-AFTRA headquarters in Los Angeles to protest the warrant, claiming they face discrimination if they refuse to be vaccinated for religious or medical reasons.

At Saturday’s board meeting, Drescher proposed a special board meeting to discuss the latest scientific information on covids, vaccines, boosters, and all options for the virus to change protocols so more union members can work. and prevent discrimination against those who refuse vaccination for religious or medical reasons.

Reportedly, members of the ruling factions Unite for Strength, USAN and Union Strong who supported his presidential campaign yelled at him during the meeting and one person proposed, then withdrew, a motion to stop him from holding such a match.

“He was telling his truth and trying to protect the members as he saw it,” said another source who attended the meeting.

SAG-AFTRA declined to comment on confidential matters of the board. Deadline has contacted Drescher and will include his comments if he were to comment.