Harvey Weinstein’s Crimes and SAG’s Failure

Unions are the best vehicle to halt workplace harassment. But the Weinstein revelations show the Screen Actors Guild has failed its membership.

Marilyn Monroe and Yves Montand standing next to a piano in a studio. Wikimedia


Now that the suppurating boil that was Harvey Weinstein’s career has burst, and the open secret of his predatory behavior has spread across the world, recrimination and soul searching are the order of the day: who knew? Who could have stopped it? Who should reform the culture of pervasive abuse of power in Hollywood, in Washington, and in the American workplace in general?

A number of other high-profile accusations — Oliver Stone, Ben Affleck, Amazon’s Roy Price — have followed the Weinstein revelations. More are sure to come, as the entire industry finally faces at least some of its ugliest demons.

But questions still abound. What responsibility does the Weinstein board have? What about agents who continued to send their clients to meetings with him? Perhaps most importantly, what about the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA)?

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