There’s No “Right” Path: Understanding Union vs. Non-Union

Kelly Moscinski and Kathryn Horan of The Voice Caster discuss union versus non-union voiceover work and when to consider joining SAG-AFTRA, emphasizing it’s a personal decision based on career timing, goals, and sustainability rather than status. They compare union benefits—set rates, standardized protections, residuals, and potential health insurance and pension—against non-union’s flexibility, variable pay, and fewer built-in safeguards, noting industry shifts toward more non-union casting (now about 80% non-union). They explain the Taft-Hartley process and “must join” status, trade-offs of joining (no non-union work, fewer auditions, higher competition), and alternatives like Financial Core (Fi-Core) and right-to-work states. They also recommend NAVA membership as an insurance option, stressing long-term planning and doing what works for individual needs.