AFTRA Supports Union Voice-over Performers In Mexico.

The American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) expressed unqualified support for the efforts of Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA) in their struggle to gain a fair contract for voice-over performers on “Los Simpsons.” Last week, the Spanish-language voice actors of “Los Simpsons” (“The Simpsons”) went on strike after contract negotiations broke down between the Mexican union and Grabaciones y Doblajes, the Mexico City-based dubbing studio where the show is re-recorded. The actors picketed the offices of the company, blocking entry to the non-union actors who were hired as replacements.

In an open letter to members of ANDA, AFTRA President John P. Connolly and AFTRA National Executive Director Greg Hessinger stated, “We commend the outstanding work performed and dedication exhibited by the our brothers and sisters of ANDA, who have been dubbing ‘The Simpsons’ into Spanish for 15 years. They have displayed professionalism and delivered quality in this delicate and specialized art form. We hope the employer recognizes the risk of losing such a valuable creative contribution to the product they produce and chooses to resolve this situation expeditiously for the benefit of all involved.”

AFTRA and ANDA continue to build solidarity around issues involving Spanish language performers and broadcasters both in the United States and in Mexico. AFTRA has posted a notice on its website asking its members not to accept work from Grabaciones y Doblajes Internacionales for “Los Simpsons” in Mexico. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) posted a similar notice on their site.