Did the SAG and AFTRA Unions Merge?

SAG and AFTRA have existed for many years as two separate actors’ unions. Serious discussions concerning merging SAG and AFTRA back into a single union have been going on since April 2010.  (Refer to “What Is SAG (Showbiz Term)?” for more information on SAG.)

As a parent of a member of SAG, I have tried to understand what the merger would mean for my daughter. I must confess that I’ve been somewhat confused by all the information that has been flying around and by the differing opinions related to this merger.

Supporters of the merger argued that a single actors’ union would be stronger than the unions as separate entities.

Those against the merger, mostly members of SAG, feared that SAG’s pension and health benefits, among other items, would be weakened if the two unions became one.

SAG and AFTRA have been busy negotiating since last summer to create the plan for the merger.

The merger finally came to a vote with ballots being counted on March 30, 2012.

In order for the unions to be joined into one union, 60% of the votes from each union had to be cast in favor of the merger.

When the votes were tallied a little over a week ago, what was the outcome? So “Did the SAG and AFTRA Unions Merge?”

Votes to determine whether the SAG and AFTRA unions would merge were counted on March 30, 2012.

Of those who cast ballots on the merger, 86% of AFTRA members and 82% of SAG members voted ‘YES.’  As a result, the SAG and AFTRA merger took place.

The name of the new union is SAG-AFTRA.

According to the SAG-AFTRA site, the new SAG-AFTRA union includes more than 150,000 members.

The changes proposed for the new SAG-AFTRA union became effective immediately after the vote results were determined. Members of either or both unions are now members of the new SAG-AFTRA union.

The following two quotes related to the merger are taken from “SAG, AFTRA Members Approve Merger to Form SAG-AFTRA” on http://www.sag-aftra.org:

According to Co-President Ken Howard, “This merger, the result of months – really years – of planning, brings together the best elements of both unions and positions us well to thrive in the changing 21st-century media landscape.”

Co-President Roberta Reardon stated, “The merger of these two unions is a huge victory for our members, and it is a monumental achievement for the labor movement.”

Many SAG-AFTRA members feel some uncertainty about what the merger will mean to them. But at the same time, members are hopeful that it will bring about positive changes for its members. Exactly how the merger will affect members will be seen over the weeks, months, and years to come.

Now there is just one union for actors to join for film, TV, and other specified media.

Members will definitely see changes in the amount of dues that they pay.  For example, for those who belonged to just one of the unions previously, the amount of base dues will go up slightly.

Those who were members of one union or the other (but not both) now have access to more opportunities without being required to join an additional union.

According to the SAG-AFTRA site, background actors will have access to additional union opportunities and will receive increased compensation for covered work.

For more details related to the SAG and AFTRA merger, visit http://www.sagaftra.org.

To your success,

Debbie Sikkema

Related articles

• SAG and AFTRA craft merger plan (latimesblogs.latimes.com)
• SAG-AFTRA Merger Approved (losangeles.cbslocal.com)