SAG, AFTRA prep for nine-day merger talks

Leaders of Hollywood's two finest artist unions Are going in the radar inside a couple of days to give consideration as to the may be the ultimate proposal for merging the Screen Stars Guild as well as the American Federation of Television & Radio Artists, Beginning Saturday, they'll hold a marathon nine-day winding up within the goal of planning the proposal with time for your national boards within the finish in the month. Too as with a move that underlines the importance for union cake cake toppers to produce a appropriate merger proposal, several periods are actually searching for the Renaissance Hotel in the SAG and AFTRA offices in Hollywood. Spokespeople for your unions did not have immediate response Monday. But an origin familiar with the issue established that although using off-site location is specific particularly at giving union reps the most effective chance at coping with a lot of complications presented by mixing the SAG and AFTRA -- and meeting the formerly introduced deadline of overall the process this month. SAG is now offering about 120,000 people while AFTRA has about 70,000, about 45,000 artists possessed by both unions. When the proposal be approved through the national boards, people may be asked for to OK the merger in the referendum that will need 60% of people voting in each union to approve. SAG people defeated merger plans in 1999 and 2003 while AFTRA people supported both. Concerns over SAG's insufficient identity as well as the impact on the SAG-producers health insurance pension plans were elevated inside the 2003 election, each time a merger took it's origin from 58% of SAG individuals who selected. The condition AFTRA and SAG Group for starters Union has held four conferences since June, most recently on 12 ,. 11-12 when the approaching nine-day meet was set. The conferences are actually triggered by Rutgers School of Management and Labor Relations professor Susan J. Schurman and labor consultant Peter S. DiCicco. The G1 includes six workgroups, which have been hammering out particulars just like a title, governance, financing, membership needs and dues. Aside from explaining the conferences as productive, the unions have revealed only general particulars in regards to the substance of discussions. SAG's selected leadership remains centered lately by professional-merger reps, who contend the combined union may well be more effective and take off jurisdictional overlaps. Rivals, who've seen their influence wane, contend the brand new union needs to be for stars only. Contact Dork McNary at dork.mcnary@variety.com