The Agency's Posts

Review: Kevin Bacon helps make 'The Following' worth following: The actor plays a former FBI agent tracking an escaped serial killer (James Purefoy). It can be....
Read More>

'The Americans' -- From Russia in love?: FX's "The Americans" was inspired by a true-life incident: The arrest in 2010 of 10....
Read More>

Jennifer Lawrence, comfortable in her skin: Jennifer Lawrenceslides into a booth at the casually elegant Culina restaurant at the Four....
Read More>

Justin Timberlake releases new single, announces upcoming album: The wait -- all three days of it -- is over. After posting acryptic video messageon his....
Read More>

Golden Globes analysis: 'Argo' shakes up Oscar best picture race: 'Argo's' big wins at the Golden Globes shifts some attention in the Oscar best picture race from '
Read More>

PBS chief defends delayed 'Downton Abbey' run in U.S.: The chief ofPBShas a message for"Downton Abbey"fans: I'm not trying to make your....
Read More>

Golden Globes 2013: Tina Fey, Amy Poehler raise the bar: The co-hosts bring their A-game to the show. Can the Oscars meet their standards? PoorSeth....
Read More>

The real magic in 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' is the comedy: 'The Incredible Burt Wonderstone' stars Steve Carell and Jim Carrey as magicians. Its climax....
Read More>

After the Oscar nominations comes the ultimate popularity contest: Critic's Notebook: The Oscar Awards are all about politics and personalities, and 'Lincoln's'....
Read More>

Oscar nominations 2013: 'Lincoln' leads field; surprises, snubs seen: Only in Hollywood could a tiny, low-budget tale of a little girl named Hushpuppy who lives in....
Read More>

Nicki Minaj to get tough on 'American Idol': Nicki Minajis tired of singing judges who are "overtly passive." So she's ready to....
Read More>

Al Pacino's secret history with 'Phil Spector': A character likePhil Spectormust make quite an impression on all who meet him, right? Well,....
Read More>

Winter TCA: Will NBC's "Smash" finally be a smash in Act Two?: NBC's"Smash"which mixed music, colorful production numbers anddramawhile telling the....
Read More>
SAG and AFTRA members give thumbs up to merger
Posted on: 03/30/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

Creating Hollywood's largest entertainment union, members of the Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists have voted overwhelmingly to combine into a single bargaining unit. 

In an resounding show of support, SAG members voted 82% in favor of the merger, while AFTRA members voted 86% in favor. That was well above the 60% threshold needed for the combination to take effect.

SAG represents 125,000 actors, extras and stunt performers in movies and television shows. AFTRA has about 70,000 members who are actors as well as singers, dancers, disc jockeys, sports announcers, comedians and broadcast journalists, among others. About 40,000 people hold membership in both labor groups.

The historic vote comes nearly two years after union leaders began discussions to merge in a bid to gain more leverage in contract negotiations with studios and to end a long history of jurisdictional disputes and feuding over negotiating strategy.

Under the plan, the new consolidated union will be called simply SAG-AFTRA. National officers, including the president and secretary-treasurer, would be elected directly by members. However, some other positions, such as an executive vice president, would be elected by delegates at a convention held every two years -- a concession to AFTRA's tradition of using conventions and delegates. SAG elects its officers directly by a vote of members.

Dues will increase for some members, including for current AFTRA-only members, and drop for others, including those who are already dual card holders. 

The results represent a victory for leaders of both unions, who campaigned heavily to join forces after a bitter dispute erupted in 2008. At that time, AFTRA suspended its longtime bargaining partnership with SAG, which lost its traditional dominance in prime-time television as producers steered most of their contracts for new shows to AFTRA. SAG President Ken Howard and his supporters were elected on a pledge to merge with AFTRA.

Two previous attempts at combining the unions failed in 1999 and 2003, when 58% of SAG members voted to endorse it, falling just short of the required 60%. AFTRA members voted 76% in favor of the combination.

A group of actors including Ed Harris, Martin Sheen and Ed Asner recently filed a lawsuit to block the latest referendum vote, arguing that the SAG board breached its fiduciary duties to conduct an actuarial impact study detailing the effects of the proposed merger on health and pension benefits for SAG members. But a federal judge earlier this week rejected their request for an injunction blocking the ballot count.


COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal