An Update from the Presidents’ Forum for One Union

Posted April 06, 2011

The AFTRA and Screen Actors Guild Presidents’ Forum for One Union met on April 2 and 3, 2011 in New York City.

The meeting resulted in meaningful progress toward the goal of uniting AFTRA and SAG. Representatives of both unions unanimously approved draft resolutions for consideration by the unions’ respective National Boards of Directors. The recommendations include a draft mission statement for the successor union and the appointment of formal groups to work on a proposed meeting schedule to develop a merger plan.

The recommendations will be presented to the AFTRA National Board of Directors at its meeting May 14, 2011 and the National Board of Directors of Screen Actors Guild at its meeting April 30 and May 1, 2011.

The Presidents’ Forum also conducted a comprehensive review of member input received at “listening tour” meetings across the country. In every location, members have expressed overwhelming support for the creation of a unified national union representing actors, recording artists, broadcasters and other media professionals.

This outreach will continue, with meetings in Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., where Forum representatives will meet with members of AFTRA’s Broadcast Steering Committee. Meetings with elected leaders from areas not yet visited are currently being planned, along with additional meetings in Los Angeles and New York.

AFTRA President Roberta Reardon observed, “I am very proud of the strong partnership and clear vision that AFTRA and SAG members are forging together through this process. We have come a very long way in a short period of time, and I applaud each and every member who has participated in this exciting and important endeavor.”

SAG President Ken Howard noted, “Each step we take together brings us closer to our crucial goal of becoming one union, and last weekend’s meeting was no exception. I look forward to sharing our work with the SAG-AFTRA Relations Task Force and, ultimately, the SAG National Board later this month.”

The members of the Presidents’ Forum for One Union are encouraged by the results of their meeting and are pleased to share this information with you. Members will continue to receive regular updates regarding the progress in our work together to build one new successor union. For more information, AFTRA members may visit www.aftra.com/OneUnion.htm and SAG members may visit SAG.org/OneUnion.

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