It was just announced that SAG and AFTRA members overwhelmingly voted to approve a merger, creating a new entity, SAG-AFTRA.
SAG members voted 82 percent in favor of the merger while AFTRA members favored the merger with 86 percent, exceeding the 60 percent threshold needed for both unions’ membership for passage.
The merger is effective immediately.
The new union brings under a single union more than 150,000 actors, announcers, broadcasters journalists, dancers, DJs, news writers, news editors, program hosts, puppeteers, recording artists, singers, stunt performers, voiceover artists and other media professionals.
“With this historic vote, members of both unions have affirmed one of the most basic principles of unionism: Together we are stronger,” said SAG-AFTRA National 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.”
“The merger of these two unions is a huge victory for our members, and it is a monumental achievement for the labor movement,” said SAG-AFTRA National Co-President Roberta Reardon. “As this vote today proves, great and transformative things are possible when working Americans stand together and shape their collective destiny through their union. I applaud every member who voted, and invite all members, locally and nationally, to join with us in building a successor union worthy of AFTRA and SAG.”
The following are results for both unions:
SAG:
105,368 number of ballots mailed.
81.9 percent yes votes
53 percent returned
AFTRA:
65,744 number of ballots mailed.
86.18 percent of yes votes
51.7 percent returned
Now officially a mouthful to say.
Ugh…don’t like the new name or acronym…LOL
You just have to say it a few hundred times 🙂
Better ingredients, better pizza! SAG-AFTRA, oh and do not forget the beer!
YES!!