Hollywood Labor News

On Friday, we'll hear the results of the recent vote as to whether the Screen Actors Guild should merge with the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. The "industry buzz" seems to be that most voters favor the premise of the two unions becoming one but many think there needs to be more research and planning before it comes about. This is not the first vote ever on this. There were a few before, most recently a 2003 vote in which the proposal had to win the votes of 60% of the membership in each union. A majority in both said yes but the vote of SAG members fell a hair short of 60%. Ergo, no merger…then.

As they try anew, it seems obvious that there's more sentiment for a merger. In the last negotiations, the two unions bargained separately and the Producers skillfully used each to undercut the other and no actor wants to see that happen again. The suspense point is whether the "Wait, let's figure more of this out before we do this" crowd has mustered enough votes to block this union of unions. I doubt they have but if they do, it probably doesn't mean the membership doesn't want a merger. It's that they just want more study and planning to take place first. We'll find out on Friday if that happens.