SAG and AFTRA open up about merger plans
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Hollywood’s actors’ unions are opening up about their proposed marriage agreement. The Screen Actors Guild and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists on Tuesday posted details of a merger package overwhelmingly approved by their respective boards last weekend.
The package includes a merger agreement, constitution and dues plan for what would be Hollywood’s largest entertainment union, combining actors as well as singers, dancers, talk show hosts and broadcast journalists under a single roof.
Members of SAG and AFTRA will get to vote on the plan in a referendum to be held in the coming weeks. Merger ballots are scheduled to be mailed out on or about Feb. 27 are due back by March 30, according to a recent email sent to members of both unions. At least 60% of voters must approve the merger for it to be ratified.
Under the plan, national officers, including the president and secretary-treasurer, would be elected directly by members. However, some other positions, including that of 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 new union will be called simply SAG-AFTRA.
For more details on the agreement, here’s the full plan: SAG/AFTRA merger package
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— Richard Verrier
