Get to Know AFL-CIO’s Affiliates: Actors and Artistes
This is the next post in our series that will take a deeper look at each of our affiliates. The series will run weekly until we’ve covered all 63 of our affiliates. Next up is the Actors and Artistes (4As).
Name of Union: Associated Actors and Artistes of America.
Current Leadership of Union: Gabrielle Carteris, president.
Mission: The 4As works to advance and protect the welfare of the people who work to entertain and inform others in person and through every medium of recording and transmission. There are five member unions that make up the 4As. Actors’ Equity Association, the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and SAG-AFTRA are directly affiliated with the AFL-CIO. Two other unions are part of the AFL-CIO through their membership in the 4As: the American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA) and the Italian American Actors (GIAA). Administrative functions of the 4As are handled by the Department for Professional Employees (DPE).
American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA)
Mission: To represent performing artists and stage managers for live performances in the variety field.
Current Leadership of Union: Judy Little serves as executive president. Other officers include Christopher Johnson (executive vice president), Susanne K. Doris (executive secretary-treasurer), Thania Guzman (director of membership) and Darlene Wendy Frank (national comptroller).
Members Work as: Variety performers, including singers and dancers in touring shows and in theatrical revues, theme park performers, skaters, circus performers, comedians and stand-up comics, cabaret and club artists, lecturers, poets, monologists, spokespersons, and those working at private parties and special events.
Industries Represented: Any performances in the variety area.
History: AGVA was founded in 1939.
Current Campaigns and Community Efforts: The AGVA Welfare Trust Fund is a self-funded major medical insurance plan, governed by a board of trustees, for the purpose of providing medical, optical and dental insurance coverage to eligible AGVA performers. AGVA offers current and previous members assistance through the Margie Coate Sick and Relief Fund, which is also regularly involved with other industry-related charities that benefit AGVA members, such as the Entertainment Community Fund, Episcopal Actors’ Guild, Catholic Actors Guild, Better Wellness, the New York Health Fair, Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, Central Labor Rehabilitation Council, St. Malachy’s Actors’ Chapel and various telethons. The fund also presents regular variety shows using the talents of AGVA member performers (for which they are paid a fee for expenses) at various senior citizen facilities, hospitals, care centers, schools and public service locations throughout the country. AGVA also provides members with visa application assistance.
Learn More: Website, Facebook, X
Italian American Actors (GIAA)
Mission: Helping advance, promote, foster and protect the welfare of its members within its own jurisdiction and its sister unions. To preserve the history and awareness of Italian heritage among its members.
Current Leadership of Union: Carlo Fiorletta is the president of GIAA. Other officers include Carolyn McDonough (first vice president), Debbie Klaar (second vice president), Mara Lesemann (secretary/treasurer), Simcha Borenstein (councilor), Ashley Wagner (councilor), Ron Piretti (alternate councilor), Regina M. Cafarelli (alternate councilor), Elaine LeGaro (alternate councilor) and Paul Borghese (president emeritus).
Members Work as: Actors.
Industries Represented: The arts and entertainment industries.
History: GIAA was founded in 1937 as the Italian Actors Union to provide a voice for small ethnic theater groups. Since the 1990s, the group has been known as the Guild of Italian American Actors.
Current Campaigns and Community Efforts: GIAA provides news and casting opportunities to its members. If members choose to have their headshot and resume included on the website, their information will be available to casting directors and agents who regularly use the site as a resource.
Kenneth Quinnell
Mon, 05/05/2025 – 13:05