Adult Film Actors Plan to Form Union

A group of adult film actors has agreed to try to form a union, tentatively named Adult Entertainment Workers.

At a private meeting Tuesday night, about 35 performers voted unanimously to draw up a list of demands and a bill of rights for workers in the San Fernando Valley-based industry.

Issues to be addressed include healthcare, pay and work schedules. Another meeting was held Wednesday night and more were expected.

Performers are paid by the scene or day and do not receive pay for overtime work, even when it involves a 20-hour day, they say.

“If you look at how much money is being made by the industry and how much goes down to the talent ... I think there needs to be a union,” said longtime actor Tony Tedeschi.

“There’s nothing like SAG [Screen Actors Guild] in the business. I would like to see this business run more like Hollywood. They should have the same rules for our workplace that they have in any other workplace.”

Porn actors have met in recent weeks to discuss ways to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases after two actors tested positive for HIV.

Suggestions have included banning certain types of sexual behavior in film, establishing precautions for tattooing and body piercing and instituting a 60-day quarantine for foreign and new performers.

Attempts to unionize adult film actors failed in 1993 and 1998.

*

Times staff writer Lisa Richardson contributed to this report.