SAG-AFTRA Merger Talks Progress

The committees billed with developing an agenda to merge the Screen Stars Guild and also the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists wrapped their third official meeting Wednesday evening in La. Inside a joint statement, SAG leader Ken Howard and AFTRA leader Roberta Reardon known as the meeting "remarkably productive," adding, "We made solid progress over the full spectrum of issues we must consider."The statement didn't get into detail in regards to what individuals issues are. Both unions happen to be tight-lipped concerning the more knowledge about merger, including the way a new union could be structured, what its title could be, and just how its formation would impact the unions' pension and health plans.Talking with Back Stage in August, just before the committees' second official meeting, SAG leader Ken Howard noted the pension and health plans are independent organizations whose trustees are hired through the unions and companies. "After we have merged, there is a fiduciary responsibility to complete what is the best for them but for the union," Howard stated. "And thus I am very certain that the things they is going to do, therefore, can be really effective and incredibly great for us." Younger crowd stressed that vested pensions are safe by federal law. "That can't disappear,Inch he stated.The SAG-Producers Pension and Health Plans introduced increases now towards the minimum earnings needed to be eligible for a participation. The plans reported the weakness from the real estate markets and recent declines in employer contributions from scripted network prime-time television as motivating factors for that hikes. AFTRA has, recently, grown to dominate network prime time, developing a jurisdictional fight that Howard indicated might be solved by merger. "Finally all that revenue is originating into positionInch publish-merger, he stated, "and may be worked with under one large organization."A proper intend to merge the 2 unions is anticipated to become completed early the coming year. It'll then be given to the particular unions' boards of company directors for approval, then to people for any ratification election.