AFTRA was a US trade union — a group that speaks for workers — for actors and other performers on television and radio. The letters stand for American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. For many years, if you worked on American TV or radio as a performer, this was the union that could help with pay, contracts, and working conditions. Film actors often belonged to a sister union called SAG. Though actually, AFTRA as a separate union is now history: in 2012 it joined with SAG, and the combined union is called SAG-AFTRA. People still say AFTRA when they talk about the old organisation, or as part of that longer name. You will meet it in credits, news about Hollywood strikes, and older contracts.