Press Releases

DPE has media staff in Washington, D.C. to handle inquiries from journalists on issues related to professionals in unions. To schedule an interview with a member of the DPE staff, contact Katie Barrows at kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org or call 202-638-0320 ext. 15 or 202-549-5991.

Katie Barrows 7/21/25 Katie Barrows 7/21/25

AEMI Public Media Unions Denounce Passage of Rescissions Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, July 21, 2025 - Last week, Congress voted to approve H.R. 4, the Rescissions Act of 2025, which revokes $1.1 billion in already-approved funding for public media.

The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) unions within the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO that have members who work in public media released the following statement in response to the vote:

“We denounce the passage of the Rescissions Act of 2025, which claws back already approved funding for public media, including, PBS, PBS Kids, NPR and small noncommercial stations across the country.

Rescinding public media funds is a radical act that will immediately impact the members of our unions who work on-air and behind-the-scenes to support and enrich their communities, many of whom rely on these stations for critical access to news, local information, and free educational content. More than 19,000 people who work in public radio and broadcasting now face an uncertain future with looming job losses and economic pain, with rural America slated to be hit the hardest by these cuts.

At the same time, today is not the last word. We will keep making the case for public media because we know its economic value and the importance it plays in everyday Americans’ lives.”

The AEMI unions with members working in public media include:

American Federation of Musicians (AFM)
Directors Guild of America (DGA)
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)
Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)
Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)

About the AEMI

The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition is made up of 12 national unions that represent professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries and is led by DPE. The AEMI is the leading voice in the labor movement on public policy in the arts, entertainment, and media industries.

About DPE

The Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) is a coalition of 24 unions representing over four million professional and technical union members. DPE affiliate unions represent professionals in over 300 occupations in education and healthcare; science, engineering, and technology; legal, business, and management; media, entertainment, and the arts; and public administration.

Katie Barrows 5/7/25 Katie Barrows 5/7/25

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Push Back Against Proposed Elimination of the NEA, NEH, and CPB

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, May 7, 2025 - Last week the Trump Administration released President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2026 “Skinny” Budget Request, which called for eliminating the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH), and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB).

The Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO released the following statement in response to the proposed elimination of the NEA, NEH, and CPB:

“Unions are prepared to fight back again against efforts to eliminate the NEA, NEH, and CPB. Nonprofit arts, humanities, and public media enjoy broad, bipartisan public support because they power local economies in every state and expand access to quality artistic and educational content across communities. Shutting down the NEA, NEH, or CPB would be a radical action that would harm everyday people.

The notion that federal funding for the arts, humanities, or public media is a financial burden for working Americans is plainly wrong.

We know firsthand the economic value of federal funding for the arts, humanities, and public media. Many members of our unions earn their living working on nonprofit productions, documentaries, and informational programs that receive funding from the NEA, NEH, or CPB. For some union members, NEA, NEH, and CPB- supported projects served as an entry point to careers in the commercial side of their industries, particularly people who grew up in rural areas far from the country’s larger media markets. These projects also have a positive economic impact for local economies beyond employment, as audiences spend an estimated $38.46 per person, per event, beyond the cost of admission, on goods and services in the communities where they attend arts and cultural programs.

Similarly, we are deeply concerned about the haphazard termination of hundreds of NEA and NEH grants. Many unions’ members who work or anticipated working on the programs supported by these grants now face economic uncertainty as funding disappears and their jobs are eliminated.

Private money cannot fully replace federal funding. Eliminating the NEA, NEH, or CPB will lead to the loss of good, middle-class jobs. The most acute economic pain will be far from the soundstages of Hollywood and bright lights of Broadway. Job losses will be in communities where the NEA may be the only funder for regional theater or at local TV or radio stations that depend on CPB funding.

Congress should continue to increase funding for the NEA, NEH, and CPB as an investment that helps put people, including our members, to work and enriches the fabric of our democracy.”

The AEMI includes:

Actors’ Equity Association (Equity)

American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)

American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)

Directors Guild of America (DGA)

Guild of Italian American Actors (GIAA)

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)

Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)

About the AEMI

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/14/25 Katie Barrows 4/14/25

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Decry the Dismantling of the NEH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2025 - This month, the Trump Administration placed nearly 75 percent of the staff at the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) on administrative leave, announced its intention to eliminate grant categories, and began canceling approved grants that have not been fully paid out.

“We decry the Trump Administration’s dismantling of the National Endowment for Humanities (NEH). The actions being taken decimate the only entity, public or private, with a charge to make the humanities accessible to all Americans. Congress, by law, has mandated the NEH to make the humanities accessible to the public. The administration’s actions cause economic harm and undermine congressional intent.

“The NEH supports educational and cultural programming for Americans of all means and geographies. Organizations in big cities and small towns across every state receive NEH grants and technical assistance. NEH funding benefits documentary films, radio shows, and podcasts of all viewpoints. Such content unites Americans through engaging storytelling about our country and our people.

“Dismantling the NEH will harm a vital component of the creative sector’s workforce. Many of our unions’ members earn their living working on NEH-supported programs and productions. Our members work as actors, directors, editors, hair and makeup artists, musicians, singers, stagehands, technicians, and writers among many other roles. NEH-funded projects have also served as an entry point for many members to careers in the commercial sector, providing them with invaluable opportunities to develop valuable skills, gain on-the-job experience, and build professional connections. The humanities are the source material for our films, plays, choreography, and songs.

“The actions also devastate the NEH staff, including our AFGE siblings. Dedicated, hard-working federal employees have made the NEH an economic driver, despite working with an annual appropriation equal to less than one half of one percent of the total U.S. budget. NEH staff are critical to ensuring grants are awarded to a broad array of projects that represent, reflect, and celebrate America. Staff are also crucial to ensuring grantees comply with the terms of the grant awards.

“Congress has appropriated funding for the NEH and the administration is obligated to carry out the agency’s mission. If it will not do so, Congress should do everything in its power to halt and reverse the actions taken at the NEH so the agency may return to helping put Americans to work by meeting its Congressionally mandated responsibilities.”

The AEMI includes:

Actors’ Equity Association (Equity)

American Federation of Musicians (AFM)

American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA)

American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)

Directors Guild of America (DGA)

Guild of Italian American Actors (GIAA)

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts (IATSE)

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)

Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU)

Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC)

Writers Guild of America East (WGAE)

About the AEMI

About DPE

Katie Barrows 3/25/25 Katie Barrows 3/25/25

DPE Applauds Senate Reintroduction of PATPA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, March 25, 2025 - Today, Senators Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) reintroduced the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA). By updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction’s earnings threshold, PATPA allows middle class, creative professionals to take above-the-line deductions for unreimbursed essential work expenses. PATPA was already reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) in January.

In response to the Senate reintroduction of PATPA, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement:

“I commend Senators Tillis and Warner for reintroducing PATPA, which will put money back into the hands of hardworking professionals.

Many members of DPE affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on expenses necessary to secure and maintain employment, like headshots, agents and managers, or equipment. Past changes to the tax code caused middle-class, creative professionals to lose their ability to deduct these expenses and unintentionally raised their tax bills significantly. PATPA provides a bipartisan solution that promotes tax fairness by restoring middle-class entertainment workers' ability to deduct legitimate, required work expenses.

DPE encourages Congress to do right by middle-class professionals in the entertainment industry and pass PATPA.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 1/27/25 Katie Barrows 1/27/25

DPE Commends House Reintroduction of PATPA, Legislation Aiming to Restore Tax Fairness for Entertainment Professionals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2025 - The bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives late last week by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA). PATPA will restore tax fairness for entertainment professionals by updating the adjusted gross income cap for the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction from $16,000 to $100,000 for single taxpayers and $200,000 for joint filers, which will ensure today’s middle-class entertainment professionals can access this longtime provision in the tax code that allows them to deduct expenses required to secure and maintain employment.

In response to the House reintroduction of PATPA, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement:

“I applaud Representatives Buchanan and Chu for prioritizing tax fairness for entertainment professionals by reintroducing PATPA.

Currently, many middle class actors, stage managers, dancers, musicians, cinematographers, and other creative professionals spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on work expenses, like headshots, talent agents and managers, or equipment. Past changes to the tax code unintentionally left many middle class entertainment professionals with hefty tax bills by eliminating their ability to deduct these necessary expenses. Many creative professionals, including members of DPE affiliated unions, have faced financial hardship as a result of this unintended tax increase. PATPA is needed to ensure entertainment professionals are no longer penalized for seeking and maintaining employment.

DPE calls on Congress to pass PATPA to restore tax fairness and put money back in the hands of hard-working professionals in the creative industries.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 1/9/25 Katie Barrows 1/9/25

DPE Commends the Release of USTR’s 2024 Notorious Markets List

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9, 2025 - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2024 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report (the “Notorious Markets List”), which calls attention to online and physical markets where substantial piracy or counterfeiting occurs. The Notorious Markets List is intended to help private sector organizations and governments prioritize enforcement efforts to reduce content theft. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the report:

“I applaud Ambassador Tai, USTR staff, and interagency partners for continuing to bring attention to the harm of content theft through the annual Notorious Markets List. The 2024 report again shows how everyday union creative professionals lose out when content theft proliferates online. Members of DPE affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries depend on legitimate sales and licensing of the films, TV shows, music, and other works they help create for their collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans. Union creative professionals also rely on the lawful sales and streaming of entertainment content for future job opportunities.

DPE remains committed to fighting for strong copyright protections and appropriate enforcement to ensure creative professionals can earn a fair return on their work, particularly in the era of generative artificial intelligence (AI). Absent safeguards and appropriate transparency, generative AI will be used as a sophisticated, deceptive tool for content theft and the unauthorized digital replication of individuals’ voices and likenesses. DPE believes that monitoring the misuse of AI for these illicit purposes in future Notorious Markets Lists is critical.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 9/10/24 Katie Barrows 9/10/24

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Policy Agenda That Reimagines Federal Support for the Nonprofit Arts and Public Media

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2024 - Today, the Arts, Entertainment, and Media Industries (AEMI) coalition within the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) unveiled its Reimagining Federal Support for the Arts and Public Media policy agenda that lays out how the federal government can take an updated approach to supporting the nonprofit arts and public media. In addition to its ongoing push for increased funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), and Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CBP), the AEMI calls for policies to strengthen labor protections, ensure a greater worker voice in grantmaking, and modernize grantmaking guidelines.

“The nonprofit arts and public media are not just popular institutions, they are economic drivers that put union professionals to work in family supporting careers,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “Committed to their long-term success, the AEMI is proud to put forward a reimagined approach to federal support for the nonprofit arts and public media that will help sustain the sector’s economic and cultural power.”

The nonprofit arts and public media help drive a segment of the economy that regularly generates four percent of the U.S. GDP and supports more than five million jobs. In fact, many union arts, entertainment, and media professionals either earn their living now or started their careers working on nonprofit productions and public media programs that receive federal funding. The policy agenda recognizes that, along with increased funding for the NEA, NEH, and CPB, a modernized approach to federal grantmaking will help make sure the sector continues to be able to offer professionals sustainable careers.

The policies proposed include: strengthening and modernizing prevailing wage protections; prioritizing seats for worker advocates on the National Council on the Arts, the National Council on the Humanities, and the CPB’s Board of Directors; and authorizing larger-dollar general operating grants through the NEA, NEH, and CPB with a worker-centered approach to grantmaking.

“I’m excited to share this policy agenda, which is informed by the lived experiences of AEMI union members who have a unique vantage point on what’s needed to best support this vital sector due to the work they perform everyday,” said Dorning.

The AEMI includes:

Actors’ Equity Association
American Federation of Musicians
American Guild of Musical Artists
American Guild of Variety Artists
Directors Guild of America
Guild of Italian American Actors
International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts
International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
Office and Professional Employees International Union
Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists
Stage Directors and Choreographers Society
Writers Guild of America East

About DPE

Katie Barrows 7/29/24 Katie Barrows 7/29/24

DPE Stands in Solidarity with SAG-AFTRA Video Game Performers on Strike

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
Kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, July 29, 2024 - On July 26, video game performers who are Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) members went on strike against the video game companies signed to the Interactive Media Agreement. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in support of the striking video game performers:

“DPE stands in solidarity with SAG-AFTRA video game performers on strike for a fair contract that provides common sense AI protections for the professionals who contribute to the success of the multi-billion dollar video game industry.

SAG-AFTRA members voice the characters that make video game stories captivating and inspire loyalty to a game, series, or company. Video game employers must do right by performers and come to a fair agreement that respects and values human creativity.

SAG-AFTRA members know firsthand that, while AI is a tool that can contribute to workplace improvement, it also has the potential for abuse. Like professionals in every industry, SAG-AFTRA video game performers are right to demand reasonable, clear, and enforceable contract language that prevents exploitation through AI.

Our coalition of union professionals stands firmly behind SAG-AFTRA members holding the line for fair AI protections.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/30/24 Katie Barrows 4/30/24

DPE Applauds USTR’s 2024 Special 301 Report for Monitoring IP Protection Around the World

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Apr. 30, 2024 - Last week, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its annual Special 301 Report, which details the findings of USTR’s review of intellectual property (IP) protection and enforcement in countries around the world. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the report:

“I applaud Ambassador Tai, USTR staff, and interagency partners for their hard work on the 2024 Special 301 Report. Current information on global trends related to IP enforcement is important to union creative professionals. In today’s digital era, members of DPE’s affiliate unions depend on effective copyright enforcement around the world because they earn collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans from the legitimate global sales and licensing of the content they help create. Inadequate copyright enforcement, along with content theft, harms every day creative professionals due to lost jobs and hard-earned pay.

Ensuring effective global IP enforcement matters now more than ever given the advent of generative AI. Without safeguards and appropriate transparency, AI will be used as a sophisticated, deceptive tool for content theft and the unauthorized digital replication of individual’s voices and likenesses. Special 301 Reports can help ensure that the copyright and IP protections union creative professionals depend on for their economic livelihoods are not weakened, distorted, or ignored to unfairly benefit AI developers.

DPE reiterates its appreciation to USTR and the Biden-Harris Administration for its continued commitment to a trade policy that prioritizes the needs of professionals.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 2/6/24 Katie Barrows 2/6/24

DPE Applauds USTR’s Annual Report on Markets with Substantial Content Theft

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Feb. 6, 2024 - The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its 2023 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report, which calls out online and physical markets where substantial piracy or counterfeiting occurs in an effort to motivate private sector organizations and governments to reduce content theft. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the report:

“I applaud Ambassador Tai, USTR staff, and interagency partners for again highlighting the scourge of content theft through the 2023 Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy report. Union professionals who are members of DPE’s affiliated unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries depend on legitimate sales and licensing of the films, TV shows, music, and other works they help create for their collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans. The theft of this content harms every day creative professionals and the American economy as a whole by leading to annual losses in jobs and revenue in the creative industries.

DPE continues to push for strong copyright protections and enforcement to address these issues, especially with the emergence of generative AI. Absent safeguards and appropriate transparency, AI will be used as a sophisticated, deceptive tool for content theft and the unauthorized digital replication of individual’s voices and likenesses. Monitoring the misuse of AI for these illicit purposes in future Notorious Markets List will be important.

DPE appreciates USTR’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s continued commitment to a trade policy that prioritizes the needs of working people.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 1/31/24 Katie Barrows 1/31/24

Coalition of Entertainment Workers, Unions, and Employers Urges Congress to Restore Tax Fairness by Passing PATPA as Tax Season Begins

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
Kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2024 - This week marks the start of another tax season with a tax code that punishes entertainment professionals for seeking employment. Entertainment workers, their unions, and their employers are continuing to stand together to demand Congress pass the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA) to restore tax fairness for those working in the arts and entertainment industries.

“For too long, hard-working, middle-class entertainment professionals have been penalized with an unfair tax code. Their taxes increased with the last tax reform bill while CEOs and billionaires got a tax cut,” said Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning.

When the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) passed, it eliminated the ability of entertainment workers to deduct necessary work expenses that most spend 20 to 30 percent of their gross income on. Without the ability to deduct expenses like travel to auditions, talent agents, and equipment, entertainment workers now owe burdensome amounts in taxes, which causes many to struggle to make ends meet.

PATPA would fix this issue by updating the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction. The QPA deduction allows eligible entertainment workers the option to take above-the-line deductions for certain unreimbursed expenses, but it is currently limited to taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes of $16,000. PATPA would raise the thresholds of the QPA deduction to $100,000 for single tax filers and $200,000 for joint tax filers to help ensure middle-class entertainment workers qualify for the deduction.

PATPA was introduced for this Congress in the House of Representatives by Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA) in April 2023, and currently has support with 83 cosponsors. It also has the support of many employers and arts organizations, including Americans for the Arts, the Motion Picture Association, the Broadway League, National Independent Venue Association, and many state and regional arts organizations.

“We are grateful for the leadership of Representatives Buchanan and Chu in fighting for a tax code that treats entertainment workers fairly by co-sponsoring PATPA. We urge both the House and Senate to pass PATPA and send it to President Biden’s desk to sign into law,” said Dorning.

About DPE

Katie Barrows 5/8/23 Katie Barrows 5/8/23

DPE Commends the Nomination of Deborah Robinson for Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
Kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, May 8, 2023 - Today, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Deborah Robinson for the position of the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). The IPEC is the position in the Executive Office of the President statutorily charged with engaging on copyright protection and enforcement issues and coordinating the actions of multiple federal agencies.

Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on Robinson’s nomination:

“I commend President Biden for nominating Deborah Robinson to serve as the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC). Deborah’s more than two decade legal career makes her well-qualified to serve in this critical role.

At a time when policy makers are confronting the rapid emergence of AI and grappling with the growth of digital trade, middle class creative professionals, including members of DPE’s affiliate unions, need a person in the IPEC role who understands that their economic livelihoods depend on strong intellectual property protections. I believe Deborah meets the mark on this important qualification.

I urge the Senate to move swiftly on Deborah’s confirmation. Union professionals need a confirmed IPEC on the job right away. Previously, the Senate has confirmed IPEC nominees in both Democratic and Republican administrations with overwhelming bipartisan support, and Deborah should be no different.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/19/23 Katie Barrows 4/19/23

DPE Applauds the House Reintroduction of PATPA, Legislation Focused on Restoring Tax Fairness for Entertainment Professionals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2023 - Today, Representatives Vern Buchanan (R-FL) and Judy Chu (D-CA) reintroduced the bipartisan Performing Artist Tax Parity Act (PATPA), which would update the Qualified Performing Artist (QPA) deduction by raising the adjusted gross income cap from $16,000 to $100,000 for single taxpayers and $200,000 for joint filers to help ensure middle-class entertainment professionals qualify to take the QPA deduction for certain unreimbursed, work-related expenses.

In response to the House reintroduction of PATPA, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement:

“This tax season middle class entertainment professionals once again grappled with owing unnecessarily burdensome amounts in taxes because they are unable to deduct expenses required to secure and maintain employment. I applaud Representatives Chu and Buchanan for prioritizing this issue by reintroducing PATPA.

Many middle class actors, stage managers, dancers, musicians, cinematographers, and other entertainment professionals spend 20 to 30 percent of their income on necessary work expenses. An unintended consequence of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was the elimination of the ability to take miscellaneous deductions. This change hit these professionals, including members of DPE’s affiliate unions, particularly hard due to the out of pocket costs they incur to travel to auditions, for equipment, and to hire talent agents. In effect, these middle class entertainment professionals are incurring a financial penalty when they look for work in their profession. By updating the QPA deduction, PATPA will ensure that individuals in the entertainment industry have the option to take an ‘above-the-line’ deduction for these types of expenses.

We urge Congress to restore tax fairness for entertainment professionals by passing PATPA and sending it to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 4/14/23 Katie Barrows 4/14/23

Union Professionals, Including SDC’s Laura Penn, Appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, April 14, 2023 - Yesterday, President Biden announced his appointees to the reestablished President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities. The appointees include Laura Penn, executive director of the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) and member of the Department for Professionals Employees’ (DPE’s) General Board, and members of DPE’s affiliated unions.

The President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities aims to facilitate public-private partnerships, promote interagency cooperation, and propose programs to enhance the arts, humanities, museums, and library services throughout the nation. Lady Gaga will co-chair the committee with producer Bruce Cohen. Other individuals appointed to the committee include actor George Clooney, television show creator Shonda Rhimes, and musician John Batiste. Additionally, the heads of key federal agencies, like the Chairs of the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities, will serve on the committee.

DPE President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement on the announcement of the appointees to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities:

“I applaud President Biden for restoring the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, and for ensuring that union creative professionals have a seat at the table. I am thrilled that President Biden has appointed Laura Penn and other members of DPE’s affiliated unions to serve on this important committee.

Members of DPE affiliate unions play an essential role in powering the arts and humanities, and having their voice and expertise on this committee will be invaluable in building out a national strategy to advance the arts and humanities.

With the addition of Laura Penn, the committee gains an individual of great caliber and character who brings decades’ worth of experience in the arts. As executive director of DPE affiliate SDC, Laura understands first hand that union professionals strengthen the arts sector through bargaining for good pay, benefits, and working conditions. The achievements of SDC and members of other DPE affiliate unions have ensured that the people working in the more than five million jobs in the creative sectors can earn a fair return on their work and sustain family-supporting careers.

I’m excited to see the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities raise the profile of the arts and humanities and take steps to bolster the sector and the professionals who work in it.”

About DPE

Katie Barrows 3/21/23 Katie Barrows 3/21/23

Arts, Entertainment, and Media Unions Launch Updated DEI Policy Priorities for the 118th Congress

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, March 21, 2023 - Today, unions of professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries affiliated with the Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) announced their updated diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policy agenda for the 118th Congress. The policy agenda’s legislative priorities are centered around creating diverse talent pipelines, incentivizing diversity in hiring, and strengthening creative professionals’ workplace rights.

“Union professionals in the arts, entertainment, and media industries remain committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion,” said DPE President Jennifer Dorning. “The updated DEI policy agenda for the 118th Congress allows union creative professionals to continue building off gains made in collective bargaining that provide for more inclusive, representative industries.”

DPE and its 12 affiliated unions with members in the arts, entertainment, and media industries first released their DEI policy agenda in 2021. In the last Congress, union creative professionals advanced many parts of the agenda, including a meaningful increase in funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the establishment of chief diversity officer positions at each agency.

The DEI policy agenda for 118th Congress includes additional legislative priorities, like restoring tax fairness for creative professionals and addressing systemic barriers to careers in arts, entertainment, and media. Still, passing the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, the American Music Fairness Act, and the Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair (CROWN) Act; reforming Section 512 of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act; and creating federal tax incentives that will encourage more inclusive hiring remain core components of the policy agenda.

“The arts, entertainment, and media industries are becoming more diverse and inclusive thanks to the efforts of union professionals at the bargaining table and in the halls of power. However, we realize this work is not finished, which is why we remain committed to pushing for smart policy solutions that will help continue to move the creative industries forward and allow creative professionals of historically marginalized communities to realize the full value of their skills and talents,” said Dorning.

The unions supporting this DEI policy agenda include:

Actors’ Equity Association

American Federation of Musicians

American Guild of Musical Artists

American Guild of Variety Artists

Directors Guild of America

Guild of Italian American Actors

International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts

International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

Office and Professional Employees International Union

Screen Actors Guild – American Federation of Television and Radio Artists

Stage Directors and Choreographers Society

Writers Guild of America, East

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Katie Barrows 1/31/23 Katie Barrows 1/31/23

DPE Commends USTR’s Report on Notorious Markets for Highlighting the Impact Content Theft has on Creative Professionals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Katie Barrows
Communications Director
P: 202-549-5991
kbarrows@dpeaflcio.org

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2023 - Today, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) released its latest report that highlights prominent and illustrative examples of online and physical markets that reportedly engage in, facilitate, overlook, or benefit from substantial copyright piracy or trademark counterfeiting. Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO (DPE) President Jennifer Dorning released the following statement in response to the report, the 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy:

“I commend Ambassador Tai and USTR for using the 2022 Notorious Markets List to examine the impact online content theft has on U.S. workers. Additionally, I appreciate the report’s acknowledgment that this is an issue directly affecting the members of DPE’s affiliate unions in the arts, entertainment, and media industries.

Union creative professionals rely on adequate and effective copyright protection to earn a fair return on their work. Many members of DPE’s affiliate unions in the arts and entertainment industries earn collectively bargained pay and contributions to their health insurance and pension plans from the sales and licensing of films, TV shows, music, and other content they help create. Revenue from authorized sales and licensing also funds the projects of tomorrow that union creative professionals count on for future jobs. As the 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy makes clear, content theft is pervasive and it hurts working people.

DPE remains ready to support USTR and the Biden-Harris Administration as they pursue a worker-centered trade policy that provides the strong copyright protections that middle-class creative professionals need to secure their livelihoods in today’s digital era. ”

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