SAG Board Approves AFTRA Merger Proposal

LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A merger between the Screen Actors Guild and the American federation of Television and Radio Artists is one step closer to being a done deal.

The SAG National Board of Directors approved a proposed agreement Friday to merge with AFTRA. The deal would unify labor representation for the bulk of film, television, Internet and radio performers.

The proposal is expected to be reviewed by the AFTRA National Board of Directors on Saturday. Assuming the deal is approved by the AFTRA board, the plan would be submitted to the members of both unions in a vote-by-mail ballot beginning Feb. 27.

SAG officials said the proposal includes an outline for the merger plan, dues and finance structure, membership requirements and other basics about the reconstituted union, which would be named SAG-AFTRA.

SAG is the nation's largest actors' labor union, with more than 125,000 members working in films, television programs, commercials, video games and in online and new-media programming. AFTRA has 70,000 members, including actors, broadcasters, singers, dancers, announcers, comedians, and disc jockeys.

Both unions are based in Los Angeles.

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