The live performance industry is facing a crisis of an unprecedented scale, and the leaders of AEA's Health & Pension Caucus are not up to the task.

Dire changes to the health plan have been announced, and thousands of members stand to lose their health coverage. These changes will disproportionately harm members of color, pregnant people, and those working in liaison areas and other smaller regions. Higher thresholds to qualify for coverage will make it more difficult for BIPOC members who already face hiring inequities to qualify, and a maximum of 6 month coverage at a time means it is nearly impossible to cover a 12 month pregnancy and postpartum. Many areas outside of NYC do not have enough average workweeks to make qualifying possible on this new plan.

These decisions were made by a group of 8 Health & Pension Trustees who DO NOT represent the membership as a whole. They are 100% white, 87% cis-male, and 100% over 45.

We are calling for the Council of Actors' Equity Association to remove the Chair and AT LEAST 50% of the Union Trustees to make way for representatives who can accurately and equitably represent the union members, whose health coverage is at stake, particularly during this crisis.