(NYT) Merger of Performers’ Unions Approved

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/31/business/media/merger-of-screen-actors-guild-and-aftra-approved.html

By MICHAEL CIEPLY
Published: March 30, 2012


LOS ANGELES — Members of two performers’ unions have overwhelmingly approved a merger plan, creating a combined union representing about 150,000 actors, broadcasters, news writers and others in the entertainment and media industries, their representatives said on Friday.

The approval joined the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) — which represents actors in movies, television and commercials — with the American Federation of Radio and Television Artists (Aftra), whose membership extends to journalists, talk show hosts and a range of broadcast workers.

“SAG-Aftra is born,” said Ken Howard, the president of the Screen Actors Guild, who is now co-president of the combined union, along with the Aftra president, Roberta Reardon.

In the actors guild, 81.9 percent of those casting ballots favored the combination. Turnout was big, with about 53 percent of 105,368 eligible members voting.

FULL story at link.

[left on green only]

1. This is a good idea

because everyone knows that since the inception of faux news, the line between news reporting and acting to provide entertainment has become too blurred for most people to be able to distinguish.

logo