Its main functions are to oversee and defend the profession of actors, in order to positively influence the creation of a fairer working society and an autonomous culture.
[2][3] The organization focuses on three areas:[1] In 1999, the union requested the basic coverage of its artists to match that of the other registered workers in social security.
[5][6] In 2006, the Union protested against the education law in Spain, for marginalizing culture and art for the benefit of the "most pragmatic subjects".
[7] Another of the objectives of the Union of Actors and Actresses is to promote those works that, in their opinion, deserve to be highlighted, whether they were made for film, television or theatre.
To this end, the Spanish Actors Union Awards were created, which recognize the best acting work in each of these three areas.