Fran Drescher easily re-elected SAG-AFTRA president as strike drags on

nypost.com:

Fran Drescher was re-electedSAG-AFTRA president for a two-year term on Sept. 8.The actress and comedian received 23,080 votes to beat out actress and writer Maya Gilbert-Dunbar’s 5,276 votes in the election, which took place amid the union’s strike against Hollywood studios.

SAG-AFTRA walked off the job on July 13, joining the Writers’ Guild of America on the picket lines and shutting down production of most movies and television shows in the country.Ballots were mailed to 124,477 voters and only 28,430 were returned, meaning less than 23 percent of the union’s members cast a vote.“I am honored to serve my union as president for another term,” Drescher, 65, said in a statement on SAG-AFTRA’s website. “These are dynamic times and as one member body, we will weather the storms, stand on our principles, and make sure our major contributions to this collaborative art form shall never again be diminished but rather be exalted.”The Queens native — best known for her titular role in the ’90s sitcom “The Nanny” — also spoke about fostering equality at the labor union, which represents 160,000 media professionals worldwide.“I want all members to be equal in all ways and I will continue to fight against marginalization and discrimination within our union, from our employers and the world at large,” she added. “Together, we will watch partisanship fade away as we develop a new culture of respect, patience, and understanding.”Joely Fisher, who was SAG-AFTRA’s secretary-treasurer, will serve as vice president.

The actress, who is the daughter of singer Eddie Fisher and actress Connie Stevens, who once also served as SAG secretary-treasurer, expressed her desire to negotiate a better contract for members.